Interview with Melvin Smith
Date2022 August 30
Mediumborn digital audio file
DimensionsDuration: 42 Minutes, 17 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineCommunity History Project Collection
Object number2022.20.41
DescriptionInterview with Melvin Smith. Interviewed by Kathleen Capon on August 30, 2022 at the Catholic Charities Diocese of Norwich. He was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Historical Society's Community History Project discussing his experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
At the time of the interview Melvin Smith was homeless and had lost his job due to the pandemic. Melvin discussed many aspects of being homeless including how he acquires food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare. Melvin relies on his faith to help him push through tough times.
As of the date of the interview Melvin believed had never contracted COVID because he took preventative measures like wearing masks. He felt that the emergence of different strains of COVID occurred so frequently because some people were making money from COVID, and the strains were linked to making more money.
Melvin did not vote. He stated, “I think everybody is a puppet” and felt that the people behind the scenes, rather than the President, were making the decisions the impacted people’s lives. He believed that the January 6th, 2021 insurrection was Donald Trump using his power to create chaos.
He manages his mental health by relying on his faith and celebrating every day like it’s his birthday because he is alive for another day.
The greatest lesson Melvin learned during the pandemic was to try to view situations from other people’s standpoints because it makes you empathetic.
The word he chose to describe the pandemic is “chaos.”
NotesSubject Note: The Connecticut Historical Society’s Community History Project (CHP) is a public-facing initiative, focused on contemporary collecting, gathering items of the recent past as well as from events happening today. This program developed community historians to identify, document, and preserve their experiences as residents of Connecticut, and to share these experiences during a series of community presentations. The project focused on the impact of Covid-19 on Connecticans, particularly on Black and Brown communities, funeral homes, and on nursing home and elder care populations.At the time of the interview Melvin Smith was homeless and had lost his job due to the pandemic. Melvin discussed many aspects of being homeless including how he acquires food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare. Melvin relies on his faith to help him push through tough times.
As of the date of the interview Melvin believed had never contracted COVID because he took preventative measures like wearing masks. He felt that the emergence of different strains of COVID occurred so frequently because some people were making money from COVID, and the strains were linked to making more money.
Melvin did not vote. He stated, “I think everybody is a puppet” and felt that the people behind the scenes, rather than the President, were making the decisions the impacted people’s lives. He believed that the January 6th, 2021 insurrection was Donald Trump using his power to create chaos.
He manages his mental health by relying on his faith and celebrating every day like it’s his birthday because he is alive for another day.
The greatest lesson Melvin learned during the pandemic was to try to view situations from other people’s standpoints because it makes you empathetic.
The word he chose to describe the pandemic is “chaos.”
Cataloging Note: This cataloging project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-249472-OMS-21.
Status
Not on view
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