An American Dream Deferred

An American Dream Deferred

One of the most important lessons I learned growing up was that if I played by the rules and worked hard, I could accomplish anything. This was — and still is — an American value taught to all children who grow up in this country and attend our public education...
Friends Like These

Friends Like These

When I was growing up, my older Mexican-American relatives had an expression: “Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” It was my family’s way of making me careful about choosing my friends. Even then, I could see they were right. The smart kids...
Coming Out of the Shadows

Coming Out of the Shadows

When I worked as a community organizer in New Mexico, I once overheard several women talking about a 2012 executive action on immigration. Known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the order made young, undocumented adults eligible for work permits and...
Fighting for Europe’s Soul

Fighting for Europe’s Soul

In the first Crusade, armed Christians set out to “liberate” Jerusalem from Muslim rule. In addition to slaughtering thousands of Muslims between 1096 and 1099, the crusaders also launched pogroms against Jews, pagans, and even other Christians. What...