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for Interview with Opal Rodriguez
Interview with Opal Rodriguez
IntervieweeInterview with
Opal Rodriguez
InterviewerInterviewed by
Silas Segar
Date28 March 2025
Mediumborn digital audio file
DimensionsDuration: 59 Minutes, 24 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineCommunity History Project Collection
Description(a) Audio file of interview with Opal Rodriguez. They were interviewed by Silas Segar on 28 March 2025 in Southington, Connecticut. (b) Photograph of Opal Rodriguez taken at their interview. (c) Photograph of Opal Rodriguez's bookstore taken at their interview. (d) Photograph of Opal Rodriguez's bookstore taken at their interview. (e) Photograph of Opal Rodriguez's bookstore taken at their interview. (f) Photograph of Opal Rodriguez's bookstore taken at their interview. (g) Photograph of Opal Rodriguez's bookstore taken at their interview.
Opal Rodriguez was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's Community History Project discussing moments of change in thier life.
Opal Rodriguez owns a gay bookstore. They discuss opening their bookstore and the support they have received from the community.
One moment of significant change in Opal’s life was attending a Black Lives Matter protest in Houston, Texas. It inspired them to want to make change in the world. They discuss their reasons for moving to Connecticut and the process and struggles they went through to open the bookstore. They talk about the feeling of creating a space for people to learn about who they are. Opal shares stories of people visiting the bookstore.
The biggest lesson that Opal learned while opening the bookstore is that people are going to let you down, but you shouldn’t take it personally.
Opal Rodriguez was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's Community History Project discussing moments of change in thier life.
Opal Rodriguez owns a gay bookstore. They discuss opening their bookstore and the support they have received from the community.
One moment of significant change in Opal’s life was attending a Black Lives Matter protest in Houston, Texas. It inspired them to want to make change in the world. They discuss their reasons for moving to Connecticut and the process and struggles they went through to open the bookstore. They talk about the feeling of creating a space for people to learn about who they are. Opal shares stories of people visiting the bookstore.
The biggest lesson that Opal learned while opening the bookstore is that people are going to let you down, but you shouldn’t take it personally.
Object number2024.79.24a-g
NotesSubject Note: The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History’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 theme "Redefining Moments of Change." Conneticans share stories of people or events who have changed their lives or how they have sparked change in the lives of others.Cataloging Note: Digitization and access to this collection is supported by a Congressionally Directed grant through the U.S. Department of Education.
Subject Terms
- Southington
- People of color
- Oral history
- Interviews
- Oral narratives
- Bookstores
- Bookstores
- Bookstores
- Bookstores
- LGBTQIA+ people
- Gay people
- Business owner
- Black Lives Matter movement
- Activism and advocacy
- Mexican Americans
- College students
- Education
- Community
- Small business
- Family
- Lesbians
- COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
- Books
- Interviews and Oral Histories
- Born Digital Audio
- Community History Project U.S. Department of Education grant
- Redefining Moments of Change Collection
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