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Photo: Leia Onofrey
“Our Cape Verdean culture is historically known for hard work. I carry that pride with me everywhere I go.”
Francisco Cardoso
Francisco is a Hydraulics & Controls Lead at Atlantic Shellfish Inc. in Fairhaven, MA. In this excerpt, he describes growing up with his grandmother on the Island of Santiago in Cape Verde and moving to the U.S. where he became a boat painter, and then worked in hydraulics after receiving on-the-job training. He describes the challenges he faced including his immigration status, language barriers, and the harsh working conditions in the winter. He explains how he mentors new workers as he was mentored and shares his culture with his coworkers, who in turn share their diverse cultures with him.
This interview was originally conducted in Kriolu.
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Background Information:
Periodic drought has made the Cape Verde islands vulnerable to floods and erosion and difficult to farm causing widespread poverty. The earliest immigrants from Cape Verde came to the United States as crew members on whaling vessels, looking for greater economic opportunity. Francisco came to New Bedford in 2000 seeking job opportunities. He discusses the challenges of not speaking English fluently. Although Portuguese is the official language of Cape Verde, imposed by Portuguese colonists, many locals speak Kriolu.
