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Veralyn has spent almost her whole life in the United States. She doesn't even remember Sierra Leone - her birth country from which her parents moved when Veralyn was an infant. Her dad has a green card. Her younger siblings are all citizens who were born in New York. Veralyn, however, is confused about her own legal status. She's not a citizen, she doesn't have a green card and she doesn't even know what rights she has. She can't work, can't get financial aid for college and is frustrated about her situation. When Veralyn starts to ask questions, some of her family members get nervous and uncomfortable. This story was produced by Radio Rookies, a program out of WNYC Radio.
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Piece Description
Veralyn has spent almost her whole life in the United States. She doesn't even remember Sierra Leone - her birth country from which her parents moved when Veralyn was an infant. Her dad has a green card. Her younger siblings are all citizens who were born in New York. Veralyn, however, is confused about her own legal status. She's not a citizen, she doesn't have a green card and she doesn't even know what rights she has. She can't work, can't get financial aid for college and is frustrated about her situation. When Veralyn starts to ask questions, some of her family members get nervous and uncomfortable. This story was produced by Radio Rookies, a program out of WNYC Radio.
3 Comments
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Review of Legal StatusHere's another excellent piece from the "Radio Rookies" in New York City. Veralyn, a native of Sierra Leone, has lived in the U.S. almost her entire life. And that's the hitch. She wasn't born here. Her parents never got around to filling out the proper paperwork to make her official in the eyes of the government. "I've lived in American nearly all my life but it feels like I don't exist," she says. So Veralyn, a feisty teen, begins questioning the adults in her life. Her Dad admits to being "really laid back" when it comes to helping her secure citizenship. Her uncle yells at her about exploring the topic on the radio: "You could get yourself deported. Do you understand that September 11 has changed the rules of the game?" Her siblings, all born in the U.S., shrug their shoulders. What's the big deal? Get the green card, they say. A programmer looking to put a personal face on the country's immigration debate should strongly consider airing this story. At just over 10 minutes long, it eats up a lot of airtime, but listeners love well-told personal stories and this is one of them. |
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Review of Legal StatusWNYC's Radio Rookies recently accepted a Peabody Award for their work, and stories like Veralyn's 'Legal Status' show us why they deserve the recognition. This is a first-person feature about an immigrant teenager's struggle with the bureaucratic hurdles that stand between her and a green card. Through Veralyn's eyes, we learn not only about what it feels like to be a legal outsider as an undocumented immigrant, but also what it feels like to be in cultural conflict with one's own family elders. Veralyn came to the US when she was a toddler --- it's the only home she knows. But her older family members seem to have trouble accepting her Americanized attitudes. Probably my favorite thing about this story is the intimacy of the very candid family arguments that Veralyn catches on tape. It's a rare thing to hear people butting heads with their loved ones in such an unmitigated and honest way. After hearing this piece, I feel like I've shared some very personal moments with a family I thought I'd have nothing in common with. |
Broadcast History
This story aired on WNYC Radio and on All Things Considered in 2005.
Transcript
HOST, INTRO: College student Veralyn William's parents moved to the Bronx with her when Veralyn was an infant. Even though she's lived in the U.S. almost her entire life, Veralyn's legal status has been a mystery to her. This is her quest for answers. Veralyn's story comes to us from Radio Rookies, a program out of WNYC Radio.
VERALYN ("VERA"), NARRATION: My dad reminds me of some of the politicians I see on TV, like in the last presidential debates. I mean, they say a whole lot, but most of the time, they aren't telling me what I want to know.
VERA: Just so I can clear it up, what's my legal status right now?
(Vera's questions continue beneath her narration.)
VERA, NARRATION: My dad is most annoying when the subject is serious, like with my immigration status.
DAD: Your legal status right now - when I got my green card under the suspension of deportation, you and you...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please use the suggested host intro and outro. If you would like to re-write the intro, please email radiorookies@wnyc.org.
HOST INTRO:
College student Veralyn William's parents moved to the Bronx with her when Veralyn was an infant. Even though she's lived in the U.S. almost her entire life, Veralyn's legal status has been a mystery to her. This is her quest for answers. Veralyn's story comes to us from Radio Rookies, a program out of WNYC Radio.
HOST OUTRO:
This story was produced by Czerina Patel and Miguel Macias of the Radio Rookies program in New York City. To learn more, go to WNYC.ORG.
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Josh Gleason
Posted on August 03, 2007 at 10:05 AM | Permalink
Review of Legal Status
This piece has received a fair amount of attention - and for good reason. This is a great piece of radio. An honest, personal account that cuts through the immigration bluster in a affecting, intimate way. Vera's situation is more complex than the black and white debate the immigration issue is often reduced to. And this nuance makes it an engaging and valuable listen.
There's a certain amount of bravery at work here - Vera has the guts to capture some very tense arguments with family members over how she should best approach her legal limbo. And she doesn't shy away from asking pointed questions.
The only thing I find lacking is a more definitive ending - the piece winds down quickly, and ultimately strikes a whimsical note that kind of threw me.
But overall I think PDs would be hard pressed not to find a reason to put this on the air - particularly if they're looking to cover immigration in a compelling, refreshing way.