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Cristina
Cristina* is a farmworker in North Carolina who experienced egregious harassment, assault, and retaliation while at work. The following is a conversation between Cristina and paralegal Mina Alcocer, from the North Carolina Justice Center, about what gives Cristina hope, what she has learned about herself, and what she would like to share with other survivors. (*Cristina is a pseudonym; her name has been changed to protect her privacy.)
I have learned not to lower my head and to recognize my own worth. For a long time, I felt humiliated and broken, as if I were on the ground—but even then, I had to get back up and keep going. I learned that I have a strength I didn’t know I had, and that I can fight for myself and for my family.
Mina: What inspired you to keep moving forward and gave you hope, even when things were hard?
Cristina: What gave me hope were the attorneys. When I no longer had strength and felt that no one was listening to me, they came in and did not leave me alone. They were with me during the hardest moments, reminding me not to give up. They were the reason I didn’t throw in the towel. They gave me strength when I could no longer find it within myself. I trusted them because they never gave up on me. They took me by the hand, gave me back my hope, and helped me believe again that it was worth continuing to fight.
Mina: What have you learned about yourself since leaving that job?
Cristina: I have learned not to lower my head and to recognize my own worth. For a long time, I felt humiliated and broken, as if I were on the ground—but even then, I had to get back up and keep going. I learned that I have a strength I didn’t know I had, and that I can fight for myself and for my family.
I am still learning to value myself, and I also want to help other women who are going through what I went through. I want to tell them not to be afraid, to speak up, and not to stay silent. It is possible. At first, when I went to report what happened, no one ever responded; my case felt lost. It was not easy. But then, everything changed when I had people who truly supported me—attorneys and a team that believed in me. I trusted them and placed my faith in the people helping me, and because of that, I was able to move forward. Without that support, I would not have achieved anything.
Mina: Is there anything you would like to share with other women who have had experiences similar to what you went through working at the farm?
Cristina: I want to tell them not to give up. The road is long and difficult, but it is not impossible. As long as there are people who walk beside you, who reach out a hand and tell you, “you are not alone,” it is worth continuing to fight.
