“It’s hard to believe how much hate there is against Latinos. No matter what country we’re from or how long we have been here, some people assume we’re illegal immigrants, and they hate us for it. They use whatever power they have to try to hurt us.
That’s what I learned from a report published by the Coalition For Humane Immigrant Rights Of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). They described 157 different times when Latinos were insulted, hurt and denied services by police, restaurant owners, bank tellers, gas station operators, students, warehouse employees—even a doctor! That shocked me, that a doctor would use those bad words!
As I was reading it, I got mad, sad and angry because of the way some U.S. citizens are treating Latinos. They should realize that Latinos are humans and they have feelings.
I felt surprised because I have not seen too much discrimination. I just can’t believe it. My parents are from different countries. My mom is from El Salvador and my dad is from Mexico. I’m from here but I look Salvadorean and none of the U.S. citizens I’ve met have discriminated against me. I have friends who are American and they have treated me real nice.
Whites have helped my family a lot
I have heard other Latinos say that white people treat us like whatever, but in my experience, they are the ones who have helped me and my family the most. My family—parents, three brothers, my sister and myself—almost died when our apartment building caught fire in 1993. You might have seen it on the TV news.
All our clothes and belongings were lost. We were all sent to different hospitals. I was in the hospital for about four or five days. When I came out I did not know where to go. Eventually I found my father, and we ended staying in my aunt’s apartment. People from all over heard about our tragedy and they helped us with furniture, clothes, food, sleeping bags and money for rent. They were the first and only people who helped us. Captain Prince, the fire chief, gave us toys for my brothers, clothes, food and tennis shoes. Mr. Quarters, another American who has known my family for a long time, gave us food, toys, money and pets—a bunny rabbit, parakeets and chickens. He’s like a second father to us.
Immigrants are not evil
For all the readers of LA Youth, I would like to ask you to think before insulting an immigrant because they are humans and deserve respect. They should not be treated badly because their skin is a different color.
To all the Latinos, I ask you to understand that you should not lash out against immigrants who arrived more recently than you, just because you speak pretty good English. They need to feel they have somebody that can help them learn English and get used to things in this country.
To those who have been humiliated, I’m sorry that some people have problems and they want to take them on you. Remember, not all people in America are going to treat you bad. Some will treat you real nice like they have treated me and my family. Just remember we are the same, but we’re a different color. We all have feelings and we are all humans.”