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Life as a Roxbury Resident
Paula D. Firmin Coar-Gueye, born February 9th, 1951, is a resident of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Her mother, Elaine Firman, is a first generation American whose parents immigrated from Antigua through Ellis Island and later moved to Boston in the late 1800s. Paula's father was born on July 17th, 1911. His family resided in New Orleans for a number of generations, and possibly originated from Haiti. Her parents met through Elaine's brother, who came to Boston in the early 1940's.

As a child, Paula spent time in the projects of Boston, the Mission and Cathedral Projects. She recalls that there was a community feel to Roxbury at the time.

Paula was interviewed by Northeastern University's Lower Roxbury Black History Project in 2008.