About This Project
Summary
Dame Tus Manos was completed during the summer of 2022 by Kai Tomalin, a senior at American University. It is a collection of oral histories told through a storybook narrative.
As told through Tomalin's Abuelita (pictured right) and Madrina (pictured below), the stories recount their family's experiences while living in 20th century Colombia, and the impact of La Violencia on their communities, traditions, and physical home. Split into four sections (La Gente, Los Animales, La Naturaleza, y Los Espiritus), the book details the wonders of Colombian culture and the histories that were preserved through the loss and hardship of Civil War and eventual migration to the United States.
Support
This project was made possible by American University's Summer Scholars and Artists Program, which funds undergraduate research projects during the summer semester. Dame Tus Manos was chosen for funding via a rigorous application process and was presented on September 28, 2022. To learn more about the SSA program, please click the button below.
About the Author
Meet Kai Tomalin
Kai Tomalin (he/they) is a current Senior at American University in Washington, D.C., where he is earning a degree in International Relations with a focus in Peace & Conflict Resolution. He was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he was exposed to numerous cultures from a young age. One of his many influences was his godmother, Albaluz, with whom Kai spent many hours in his youth; she taught him about Colombian heritage, the Spanish language, and more. This is Kai's first Summer Scholars and Artists Project.
