For Brooklyn’s Bianco Brothers, Keeping it Sharp is a Labor of Love
Small family businesses have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re going to hear from one of them.
Bianco Brothers Instruments is owned by twin brothers Joe and Vinny Bianco. They took over the shop from their father, and now their sons are working beside them, expertly sharpening all types of tools. Over the years, their business has grown to include manufacturing a wide array of sharp instruments, from chefs knives to dental cement spatulas.
In a remote interview recorded through StoryCorps Connect, Joe and his son Peter reflected on their craft, and the legacy they are carrying forth in their Brooklyn storefront.
Top photo: Joe Bianco and Peter Bianco.Courtesy of Peter Bianco.
Bottom photo: Joe Bianco grinding at the wheel at the family shop in the 1980s. Courtesy of Joe Bianco.
Originally aired September 4, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
From The School Bus To The Hospital, A Doctor’s Experiences With Racism
As nationwide protests in the United States continue, conversations about racial inequity have come into the forefront. And many are reminded of experiences from our not-so-distant past — like Dr. Ayim Darkeh and his mother, Shirley, who moved to Westbury on Long Island, New York in the 1970s.
When Ayim started attending elementary school, he was one of a handful of Black students in a predominantly white school.
Ayim and his mother had a conversation over StoryCorps Connect to talk about the discrimination Ayim faced as a child, and how that’s shaped his approach to parenting.
Content Warning: this story contains some offensive language.
Top Photo: Shirly Darkeh and Ayim Darkeh at Shirly’s 85th birthday celebration at a church on Long Island, NY in 2019. Courtesy of Ayim Darkeh.
Bottom Photo: Ayim Darkeh and his children at their Brooklyn home in 2019. Courtesy of Ayim Darkeh.
Originally aired August 28, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Three Generations Of Women Pharmacists On Living Through The Pandemic
Vivian Garcia Leonard came to the United States as a Cuban refugee and fought to make a name for herself as a hospital pharmacist. She’s been on the job for 59 years, but in the wake of COVID-19 has had to stay home. Now her daughter, Vivian Janet Leonard, and granddaughter, Marissa Sofia Ochs, carry on the family legacy.
They spoke through StoryCorps Connect about the tough choices the coronavirus pandemic demands.
Top Photo: Vivian Garcia Leonard (left), Baby Liana, Marissa Sofia Ochs, and Vivian Janet Leonard. Courtesy of Marissa Ochs.
Bottom Photo: Vivian Garcia Leonard working as a pharmacist.
Originally aired July 3rd, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition.