Oral History Interview with Nancy

DESCRIPTION
Content note: description of racism, sexism, homophobia

Nancy Haque shares memories of growing up in a working-class Bangladeshi migrant family in Washington DC. She narrates experiences of facing racism and white supremacy and grappling with belonging to American society since childhood and in the wake of Islamophobia in post-9/11 America. Nancy delves into the complexities of family life, evolving relations with siblings, mental health issues, and South Asian community life. She reflects on her complex feelings around Bangladesh as “the home that never was” while feeling proud to be of Bangladeshi origin. Nancy shares memories of exploring sexuality and her changing relations to her parents, often in the form of distances and silences. Nancy recounts her visit to Bangladesh and the impact of the 2016 murders of LGBT+ activists in Bangladesh on her relatives. Throughout the oral history, Nancy shares memories of getting involved in activism at an early age and working on LGBT+ rights, anti-racist organizing, economic justice, immigrant justice, and transgender equality as an ally. Nancy narrates memories of being in a community with queer South Asians and navigating racism in the queer community. In this oral history, we listen to a long-time Bangladeshi-American political organizer share intimate memories and reflect on home and belonging, practicing radical politics, and fighting for a better future.

THEMES
Gender & Sexuality

AUDIO
Duration: 00:59:06

ADDITIONAL METADATA
Date: February 16, 2021
Subject(s): Nancy Haque
Type: Oral History
Source: Archival Creators Fellowship Program
Creator: Efadul Huq
Location: Portland, Oregon

PROVENANCE
Collection: Efadul Huq Fellowship Project
Item History: 2021-07-09 (created); 2024-05-26 (modified)

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