Laura Gomez: Following in the footsteps of Evangelina Rodríguez Perozo.
Lily Whear: What drew you to Evangelina's story and why is telling it so important?
Laura Gómez: Well, I’ve got to start by saying that Evangelina found me. I was recommended to this podcast by someone who knew my work and thought I would be a good match. I am saddened to say I did not know Evangelina's story until I got to narrate the current season of Lost Women of Science about her. But then, I felt an instant connection with this incredible woman and her extraordinary life journey; to be a woman so ahead of her time; a black Dominican woman coming from such dire circumstances and to become the first female doctor in the Dominican Republic at the beginning to the 20th century, in such a male dominated environment, is quite an accomplishment. She is a part, not only of my country's history, but just history overall. This woman from an island in the Caribbean was a true trailblazer and that's mainly why I feel telling her story is so important.
[The Extraodinary Life and Tragic Death of Evangelina Rodríguez Perozo Listen Now]
Lily Whear: You were able to physically retrace Evangelina's steps in Santo Domingo - what effect did this have on your storytelling?
Laura Gómez: That was pretty impactful, actually, because I got to visit the faculty of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) where she studied. I met with a fellow Dominican peer there (Alejandra Alemany) and there was just this genuine feeling of gratitude from us both towards Evangelina. We stood in front of her statue and I just felt her presence and imagined her walking through those halls around precisely 100 years ago, the only woman in a sea of men as we accurately say in the podcast. I can't even imagine what that must have felt like. I kept those thoughts and that curiosity throughout the narration of her story and felt particularly emotional while describing the injustices done to her, but also grateful for all the people who never forgot her.
Lily Whear: This is Lost Women of Science's first time releasing bilingual episodes. Have you noticed a difference in audience response for each language?
Laura Gómez: Well, this is my first time working with this team as well, and that was my first question: if the podcast would be in Spanish as well. It had been considered, but it wasn't a sure thing so I offered to adapt it myself, which I did, so I was incredibly excited that the offer was well received, because I just felt it was necessary for Spanish speakers, especially Dominican people to learn about Evangelina's story. I know I've been receiving many comments from people of different nationalities in Latin America and Latinos in the US who are listening. I’m not sure what the audience was like before, but Spanish speakers indeed paid attention, so... mission accomplished!
Lily Whear: Listening back to the English and Spanish versions, are there emotive differences between them for you?
Laura Gómez: Not really. I mean, Spanish is my native language so maybe technically speaking, it was easier for me, meaning it requires less concentration to do the narration versus the English, but I honestly gave my all to both languages and was inspired by Evangelina's journey in both narrations. I'm quite proud of what we achieved.
Lily Whear: Are there other women from the Dominican Republic that you would like to shine a light on?
Laura Gómez: Yes, for sure. The Mirabal sisters, Minerva, Patria and María Teresa, who fought against Dominican dictator Rafael L. Trujillo as well and were killed by him. Also, Salomé Ureña, a national poet, involved with the Normal schools, created by Eugenio María de Hostos, also mentioned in the podcast. In addition, Florinda Soriano Muñoz aka Mamá Tingó, an Afro-Dominican activist leader and defender of the rural farmer's community, for which she was unjustly assassinated. There are many more, of course, but for now, these come to mind.
Lily Whear: That’s an impressive list. We hope that these women also get their moment in the spotlight too. Thank you Laura for helping us tell Evangelina’s story so beautifully. We can’t wait to hear you bring to life more of our episodes in Spanish.
