America, Ain’t Giving Up, Despite It All…
My heart is broken by the cruelty we are witnessing. Somos el corazón de este país, and despite the ideals of equality penned in the Declaration of Independence, we know that true equity remains aspirational.
What we're living feels like a gut punch. It feels like it doesn't matter that 19% of the US population identifies as Latino or that the economic power of Latinos in the US is significant and growing, with a GDP of $4.1 trillion - we as a whole would be considered the fifth largest economy in the world. We're 65.2 million strong, and projections show that we will be 28% of the total US population by 2060. Yet, the promise of equality remains unfulfilled, a haunting reminder that the words on our founding documents are still waiting to be matched by the reality in our communities. It's degrading and hurtful to be treated without humanity.
Despite systemic injustices, we stand strong: somos fuertes, somos gente de fe, somos emprendedores, trabajadores, e innovadores y nuestras familias son nuestro superpoder.
Independence Day creates a lot of mixed emotions for me, as I would venture to say that as an immigrant to this country, I have achieved the American Dream, despite it all. I have gratitude, anger, and a broken heart on its birthday.
We have fought for this country, we produce for this country, we contribute to its prosperity, and our young population is the hope of innovation and progress. We are the backbone of its workforce and the heartbeat of its future.
Today and every day, we must remember that we deserve to be seen, heard, and treated with dignity. Estados Unidos es nuestro país. This is our country, and we will persevere in the pursuit of a more just and equitable society. Feliz cumpleaños America, yo no me voy a dar por vencida!