Voices of Duranguito: A Barrio Under Siege

Duranguito, the historic first neighborhood of El Paso, Texas, is on the verge of being destroyed. Through the use of oral histories, the experiences of the people who currently live there and those who protect it are captured to tell the unique history of a low income and mostly immigrant elderly community. At this time of turmoil, it is important to capture oral histories in order to highlight the sense of community felt among the residents before those memories are lost. Over one-third of the residents have been displaced already and many others are under threat of being displaced over the next few years. The city government voted to demolish the neighborhood for an arena in 2016. Since then, resistance from the residents and community supporters has further strengthened.