How does your family & community history connect to your American creed?
An immigrants’ American Creed
Everyone has a history, whether it be told by one’s race, region, ethnicity, or FAMILY. The American Creed is one's own belief in what America stands for to them. Equality, liberty, and individualism — These are the values my family and community expressed in the American Creed. Francisca Velasco and Abundio Sanchez are the roots of my history.
Francisca Velasco
My mother was born in the 70s. She was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico. My mother is Mexican by blood and soil, and Spaniard by blood. The Spanish blood comes from my grandfather’s side, whose father emigrated to Mexico after some difficulties in his country — Spain. Francisca became a mother at the age of 17 and birthed a son on Mexican soil. After having her son, she discovered that life in Mexico was difficult with a child.
Francisca decided to follow a difficult path for the better of her child’s future. She crossed the Sonoran Desert to enter the United States. Francisca knew this journey could lead to death but she was willing to give even that up for a chance of the “American Dream”. Francisca was dehydrated, cold, scared, and in pain throughout this journey, but she successfully made it through the border after a week and several days.
In the year 1993, Francisca felt the harsh reality of an immigrant on American soil. She learned that she had to work tirelessly to support herself. She learned that “equality, liberty, and individualism“ didn’t apply to her because of her illegal entry, but that didn’t stop her from thriving. Francisca and her husband made sure they left the field with swollen feet, sore hands, and empty stomachs every night.
In the year 1999, Francisca gave birth to her second child — me. Then in 2001, she gave birth to her third and last child — my little sister. After many years of struggle, Francisca was able to make a home and afford to go to sleep peacefully knowing that her children slept with full stomachs and warm blankets. 2001 was also the year she saw able to hold her son again, but this was on American soil. Unfortunately, that fairytale only lasted seconds. She was followed and nearly taken by immigration. She had to work even harder to provide for all three of her children and without the help of her husband. Even today, with a social security number in hand she feels unwanted on American soil.
Abundio Sanchez
My father was born in 1965 and was raised in Mexico. Abundio’s ancestry goes back to when hearts were sacrificed to their gods — the Aztec people. Abundio had a great life in Mexico. He was a professional basketball player and had fame in his country. That is after he had a child with Francisca and fame wasn’t enough. The fame was keeping him from seeing his family, so he decided to cross the border to provide for them. He faced the same difficulties as any other trying to cross.
He worked endlessly in the fields, where they were paid 30 cents per bucket. Abundio’s goal was to provide for his family so every cent was sent to his family in Mexico. He shared a one-bedroom home with 10 men and ate their leftovers. Abundio came to America because of the stories he heard. The gossip that America was the country to be in if you wanted money and freedom, but to his surprise, it wasn’t like that at all.
After many years alone, Abundio decided to return home for his wife, Francisca who wanted to help by working. Then again the harsh journey began. He and his wife worked to provide for a successful future. Still today he also feels unwanted in this country.
