as a teenager I was ashamed of being poor and Mexican but once I gained
poor and Mexican but once I gained
poor and Mexican but once I gained political consciousness I turned that
political consciousness I turned that
political consciousness I turned that chain into pride and over my life
chain into pride and over my life
chain into pride and over my life everything that I have accomplished and
everything that I have accomplished and
everything that I have accomplished and I have accomplished a lot over the years
I have accomplished a lot over the years
I have accomplished a lot over the years it has been based and fueled by my pride
it has been based and fueled by my pride
it has been based and fueled by my pride of my working-class roots and my Mexican
of my working-class roots and my Mexican
of my working-class roots and my Mexican heritage my story like all of your
heritage my story like all of your
heritage my story like all of your stories doesn’t begin with me
stories doesn’t begin with me
stories doesn’t begin with me it begins with my parents here they are
it begins with my parents here they are
it begins with my parents here they are a good-looking couple
a good-looking couple
a good-looking couple I don’t know that man looks like
I don’t know that man looks like
I don’t know that man looks like somebody I know so my parents were born
somebody I know so my parents were born
somebody I know so my parents were born in Mexico in a small Rancho sajo Grande
in Mexico in a small Rancho sajo Grande
in Mexico in a small Rancho sajo Grande in the beautiful state of Michoacan they
in the beautiful state of Michoacan they
in the beautiful state of Michoacan they grew up in the 1930s 40s 50s and they
grew up in the 1930s 40s 50s and they
grew up in the 1930s 40s 50s and they were part of what Karl Marx talks about
were part of what Karl Marx talks about
were part of what Karl Marx talks about with the peasant class they worked the
with the peasant class they worked the
with the peasant class they worked the land they started to work young 1012
land they started to work young 1012
land they started to work young 1012 years old they worked from sunup to
years old they worked from sunup to
years old they worked from sunup to sundown in the 1950s my father first
sundown in the 1950s my father first
sundown in the 1950s my father first arrived in the United States as a
arrived in the United States as a
arrived in the United States as a bracero as a guest worker during the
bracero as a guest worker during the
bracero as a guest worker during the bracero program between the United
bracero program between the United
bracero program between the United States and Mexico later because of a
States and Mexico later because of a
States and Mexico later because of a family feud that was going on in the
family feud that was going on in the
family feud that was going on in the Rancho it was like the Hatfields and the
Rancho it was like the Hatfields and the
Rancho it was like the Hatfields and the McCoys Mexican style my family was
McCoys Mexican style my family was
McCoys Mexican style my family was forced to relocate from the Rancho to
forced to relocate from the Rancho to
forced to relocate from the Rancho to Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana La Colonia liberty’ they grew up well
La Colonia liberty’ they grew up well
La Colonia liberty’ they grew up well they settled in a canyon and when I say
they settled in a canyon and when I say
they settled in a canyon and when I say family I don’t mean like mom dad 2.5
family I don’t mean like mom dad 2.5
family I don’t mean like mom dad 2.5 kids I mean a well oh yeah well I tio
kids I mean a well oh yeah well I tio
kids I mean a well oh yeah well I tio idea I have
idea I have
idea I have and aunts and uncles each one has 10
and aunts and uncles each one has 10
and aunts and uncles each one has 10 kids I have 100 first cousins the one we
kids I have 100 first cousins the one we
kids I have 100 first cousins the one we have parties luckily half of them are
have parties luckily half of them are
have parties luckily half of them are yen who says I could recognize him Maria
my mother was an entrepreneurial she was
my mother was an entrepreneurial she was brilliant
brilliant
brilliant she was a trans-border worker when we
she was a trans-border worker when we
she was a trans-border worker when we lived in Tijuana she cleaned homes in
lived in Tijuana she cleaned homes in
lived in Tijuana she cleaned homes in San Diego so she would go back and forth
San Diego so she would go back and forth
San Diego so she would go back and forth and my parents both of them they came
and my parents both of them they came
and my parents both of them they came with more work permits my father with
with more work permits my father with
with more work permits my father with the bracero program and my mother with
the bracero program and my mother with
the bracero program and my mother with the work permit cleaning houses you know
the work permit cleaning houses you know
the work permit cleaning houses you know for the middle class in the rich in San
for the middle class in the rich in San
for the middle class in the rich in San Diego and then the back in the card it
Diego and then the back in the card it
Diego and then the back in the card it didn’t say that you couldn’t have kids
didn’t say that you couldn’t have kids
didn’t say that you couldn’t have kids in the United States so my mother was a
in the United States so my mother was a
in the United States so my mother was a visionary so when she was pregnant with
visionary so when she was pregnant with
visionary so when she was pregnant with me she decided that Alvaro was going to
me she decided that Alvaro was going to
me she decided that Alvaro was going to be born in the United States that was
be born in the United States that was
be born in the United States that was born in Sacramento I don’t know how she
born in Sacramento I don’t know how she
born in Sacramento I don’t know how she got from Tijuana Sacramento but
but that’s how the commodity Network
but that’s how the commodity Network works you know the same UPS doesn’t have
works you know the same UPS doesn’t have
works you know the same UPS doesn’t have anything on that other than anything so
anything on that other than anything so
anything on that other than anything so forty days after I was born my mother
forty days after I was born my mother
forty days after I was born my mother returned to pick one up where my
returned to pick one up where my
returned to pick one up where my brothers and my sisters were I mean
brothers and my sisters were I mean
brothers and my sisters were I mean there’s eight of us so I grew up for the
there’s eight of us so I grew up for the
there’s eight of us so I grew up for the first four years of my life in Tijuana
first four years of my life in Tijuana
first four years of my life in Tijuana and we grew up there poor and they call
and we grew up there poor and they call
and we grew up there poor and they call it dirt poor for a reason because
it dirt poor for a reason because
it dirt poor for a reason because there’s nothing but dirt and the funny
there’s nothing but dirt and the funny
there’s nothing but dirt and the funny thing about growing up or if there is a
thing about growing up or if there is a
thing about growing up or if there is a funny thing is that when you’re poor and
funny thing is that when you’re poor and
funny thing is that when you’re poor and everybody else around you is poor you
everybody else around you is poor you
everybody else around you is poor you don’t even know that you’re poor you
don’t even know that you’re poor you
don’t even know that you’re poor you don’t even know that you’re Mexican you
don’t even know that you’re Mexican you
don’t even know that you’re Mexican you know because everybody’s the same you
know because everybody’s the same you
know because everybody’s the same you know every we’re all the same so
know every we’re all the same so
know every we’re all the same so eventually my parents my uncles and
eventually my parents my uncles and
eventually my parents my uncles and aunts they relocated to Hollywood this
aunts they relocated to Hollywood this
aunts they relocated to Hollywood this is in the 1970s they relocated to a
is in the 1970s they relocated to a
is in the 1970s they relocated to a three-story home literally I’m not
three-story home literally I’m not
three-story home literally I’m not kidding here people it was like 30
kidding here people it was like 30
kidding here people it was like 30 people in one house we wouldn’t have
people in one house we wouldn’t have
people in one house we wouldn’t have boils in the basement and we have to
boils in the basement and we have to
boils in the basement and we have to feed the poles but that’s another story
feed the poles but that’s another story
feed the poles but that’s another story and my mother was was a little bit tired
and my mother was was a little bit tired
and my mother was was a little bit tired of living with so many people she wanted
of living with so many people she wanted
of living with so many people she wanted her own independence or own home so she
her own independence or own home so she
her own independence or own home so she applied for public assistance and ball
applied for public assistance and ball
applied for public assistance and ball Heights so she ended up relocating the
Heights so she ended up relocating the
Heights so she ended up relocating the family and my father came along to
family and my father came along to
family and my father came along to public housing in Ramona Gardens also
public housing in Ramona Gardens also
public housing in Ramona Gardens also known as a big hazard for the gang my
known as a big hazard for the gang my
known as a big hazard for the gang my mother like most immigrants that arrived
mother like most immigrants that arrived
mother like most immigrants that arrived in the United States they’re unaware of
in the United States they’re unaware of
in the United States they’re unaware of the customs they’re aren’t aware of the
the customs they’re aren’t aware of the
the customs they’re aren’t aware of the bureaucracy didn’t understand how it
bureaucracy didn’t understand how it
bureaucracy didn’t understand how it works and she didn’t understand
works and she didn’t understand
works and she didn’t understand not on blame her for it but she didn’t
not on blame her for it but she didn’t
not on blame her for it but she didn’t understand that she applied to the most
understand that she applied to the most
understand that she applied to the most violent public housing projects in the
violent public housing projects in the
violent public housing projects in the United States I mean this was this
United States I mean this was this
United States I mean this was this mirror right here was our welcome to the
mirror right here was our welcome to the
mirror right here was our welcome to the proud
proud
proud you know somebody getting shot and for
you know somebody getting shot and for
you know somebody getting shot and for us all of the kids from the projects we
us all of the kids from the projects we
us all of the kids from the projects we ended up going to the same elementary
ended up going to the same elementary
ended up going to the same elementary school now the the expectations were so
school now the the expectations were so
school now the the expectations were so low that when somebody graduated
low that when somebody graduated
low that when somebody graduated elementary they had like they killed the
elementary they had like they killed the
elementary they had like they killed the pig and everything they had like a big
pig and everything they had like a big
pig and everything they had like a big ol patch on Gaza there was no guarantee
ol patch on Gaza there was no guarantee
ol patch on Gaza there was no guarantee that they were going to go to high
that they were going to go to high
that they were going to go to high school
school
school talk about unchartered territories going
talk about unchartered territories going
talk about unchartered territories going to high school is like one of Mars you
to high school is like one of Mars you
to high school is like one of Mars you know it just didn’t happen you know for
know it just didn’t happen you know for
know it just didn’t happen you know for us it was about survival was about not
us it was about survival was about not
us it was about survival was about not getting beat up it was about protecting
getting beat up it was about protecting
getting beat up it was about protecting each other but I was lucky because I was
each other but I was lucky because I was
each other but I was lucky because I was gifted in math so that was my gift and
gifted in math so that was my gift and
gifted in math so that was my gift and my brother was gifted in art so that we
my brother was gifted in art so that we
my brother was gifted in art so that we had to tell him and I had a teacher her
had to tell him and I had a teacher her
had to tell him and I had a teacher her name was Miss Rose she looked like
name was Miss Rose she looked like
name was Miss Rose she looked like Ronald McDonald so I still call her Miss
Ronald McDonald so I still call her Miss
Ronald McDonald so I still call her Miss Ronald McDonald and I had finished all
Ronald McDonald and I had finished all
Ronald McDonald and I had finished all the math books and in sixth grade she
the math books and in sixth grade she
the math books and in sixth grade she taught me algebra and during that time
taught me algebra and during that time
taught me algebra and during that time period now we’re talking late 70s early
period now we’re talking late 70s early
period now we’re talking late 70s early 80s there was a busing integration
80s there was a busing integration
80s there was a busing integration program where they wanted to integrate
program where they wanted to integrate
program where they wanted to integrate the white schools with the minority
the white schools with the minority
the white schools with the minority schools and the they bus kids so for
schools and the they bus kids so for
schools and the they bus kids so for junior high school half of us went to
junior high school half of us went to
junior high school half of us went to monkeys in junior high and Sunland
monkeys in junior high and Sunland
monkeys in junior high and Sunland Tujunga it’s about an hour away from
Tujunga it’s about an hour away from
Tujunga it’s about an hour away from ball Heights and the other half went to
ball Heights and the other half went to
ball Heights and the other half went to Elsa denno in East LA it was kind of a
Elsa denno in East LA it was kind of a
Elsa denno in East LA it was kind of a random thing and I got selected to go to
random thing and I got selected to go to
random thing and I got selected to go to both Sun land to hunga and everybody in
both Sun land to hunga and everybody in
both Sun land to hunga and everybody in the projects was poor everybody was
the projects was poor everybody was
the projects was poor everybody was Mexican so there was no problem with
Mexican so there was no problem with
Mexican so there was no problem with identity we didn’t have an issue with
identity we didn’t have an issue with
identity we didn’t have an issue with that and we didn’t have an issue being
that and we didn’t have an issue being
that and we didn’t have an issue being poor because it goes back to the theory
poor because it goes back to the theory
poor because it goes back to the theory that I have you know everybody’s the
that I have you know everybody’s the
that I have you know everybody’s the same we don’t feel it but when I got
same we don’t feel it but when I got
same we don’t feel it but when I got there on the first day the white kids
there on the first day the white kids
there on the first day the white kids started throwing like rocks at us and it
started throwing like rocks at us and it
started throwing like rocks at us and it was like we’re like in Birmingham
was like we’re like in Birmingham
was like we’re like in Birmingham Alabama gonna say they started calling
Alabama gonna say they started calling
Alabama gonna say they started calling those names and they were calling us I
those names and they were calling us I
those names and they were calling us I went back and and
went back and and
went back and and writer and beaner the beaner I could
writer and beaner the beaner I could
writer and beaner the beaner I could never understand is like don’t you eat
never understand is like don’t you eat
never understand is like don’t you eat beans in a second you know it’s like
beans in a second you know it’s like
beans in a second you know it’s like that one I was like you know but I’m a
that one I was like you know but I’m a
that one I was like you know but I’m a kid you know that can I understand
kid you know that can I understand
kid you know that can I understand violence I understand displacement I
violence I understand displacement I
violence I understand displacement I stand all this stuff but I don’t
stand all this stuff but I don’t
stand all this stuff but I don’t understand racism it was was something
understand racism it was was something
understand racism it was was something that was foreign to me I could
that was foreign to me I could
that was foreign to me I could understand why we were being judged but
understand why we were being judged but
understand why we were being judged but my mother she was a visionary like I
my mother she was a visionary like I
my mother she was a visionary like I said she was brilliant no formal
said she was brilliant no formal
said she was brilliant no formal education like my father
education like my father
education like my father and one day she says she tells my father
and one day she says she tells my father
and one day she says she tells my father I want you to take Solomon my brother
I want you to take Solomon my brother
I want you to take Solomon my brother older brother and Alvaro to go work in
older brother and Alvaro to go work in
older brother and Alvaro to go work in Malibu as day laborers I was 13 and he
Malibu as day laborers I was 13 and he
Malibu as day laborers I was 13 and he was 15 and I was a good kid and I don’t
was 15 and I was a good kid and I don’t
was 15 and I was a good kid and I don’t understand why she was doing this to me
understand why she was doing this to me
understand why she was doing this to me like because that was a good kid I was
like because that was a good kid I was
like because that was a good kid I was smart but I was lazy
smart but I was lazy
smart but I was lazy you know the Americanization you know
you know the Americanization you know
you know the Americanization you know the TV I mean I was so lazy I had the TV
the TV I mean I was so lazy I had the TV
the TV I mean I was so lazy I had the TV schedule memorize you know like on
schedule memorize you know like on
schedule memorize you know like on Tuesday happy days and on Thursday
Tuesday happy days and on Thursday
Tuesday happy days and on Thursday Three’s Company like I had literally
Three’s Company like I had literally
Three’s Company like I had literally memorized and we get there and we get
memorized and we get there and we get
memorized and we get there and we get there you know my father woke us up at
there you know my father woke us up at
there you know my father woke us up at 5:00 in the morning and we take two
5:00 in the morning and we take two
5:00 in the morning and we take two buses and we get there and they’re
buses and we get there and they’re
buses and we get there and they’re making us work and I could not believe
making us work and I could not believe
making us work and I could not believe it
it
it my arms were hurting and then after a
my arms were hurting and then after a
my arms were hurting and then after a while my father goes okay okay let’s go
while my father goes okay okay let’s go
while my father goes okay okay let’s go and I thought it was it you know that
and I thought it was it you know that
and I thought it was it you know that was it like let’s go home now
was it like let’s go home now
was it like let’s go home now and then he goes no it’s a it’s lunch
and then he goes no it’s a it’s lunch
and then he goes no it’s a it’s lunch time and I saw stalls right there like
time and I saw stalls right there like
time and I saw stalls right there like crying like how like I said to myself
crying like how like I said to myself
crying like how like I said to myself too lazy to work I’m gonna go to college
too lazy to work I’m gonna go to college
too lazy to work I’m gonna go to college so that was
and so for us for us violence was
and so for us for us violence was omnipresent it was there I mean my
omnipresent it was there I mean my
omnipresent it was there I mean my father carried a gun everywhere he went
father carried a gun everywhere he went
father carried a gun everywhere he went you know the gangs carry guns and the
you know the gangs carry guns and the
you know the gangs carry guns and the police carry gun and to tell you the
police carry gun and to tell you the
police carry gun and to tell you the truth
truth
truth we weren’t even afraid of the gang
we weren’t even afraid of the gang
we weren’t even afraid of the gang because we grew up with him there were
because we grew up with him there were
because we grew up with him there were our friends
our friends
our friends we were more afraid of the police and
we were more afraid of the police and
we were more afraid of the police and when I was 16 years old I was teaching
when I was 16 years old I was teaching
when I was 16 years old I was teaching myself how to drive it I got pulled over
myself how to drive it I got pulled over
myself how to drive it I got pulled over I’d made a rolling stop and instead of
I’d made a rolling stop and instead of
I’d made a rolling stop and instead of asking me for my ID or whatever you know
asking me for my ID or whatever you know
asking me for my ID or whatever you know he pulled out a gun on me and that’s the
he pulled out a gun on me and that’s the
he pulled out a gun on me and that’s the first time I saw it like a guns like
first time I saw it like a guns like
first time I saw it like a guns like literally pointed at me I’ve carried a
literally pointed at me I’ve carried a
literally pointed at me I’ve carried a gun before but not like directly towards
gun before but not like directly towards
gun before but not like directly towards me and I was a little bit in shock but
me and I was a little bit in shock but
me and I was a little bit in shock but after a while I had gun accustomed to it
after a while I had gun accustomed to it
after a while I had gun accustomed to it in the project so I go home my mom asked
in the project so I go home my mom asked
in the project so I go home my mom asked me you know what’s what happened I told
me you know what’s what happened I told
me you know what’s what happened I told her once again look mother Network it
her once again look mother Network it
her once again look mother Network it was just like really it got to her by
was just like really it got to her by
was just like really it got to her by the time I got home we didn’t have
the time I got home we didn’t have
the time I got home we didn’t have internet back then there’s like a kid is
internet back then there’s like a kid is
internet back then there’s like a kid is a come at me go oh you know pretty
a come at me go oh you know pretty
a come at me go oh you know pretty holocene but when I was in high school
holocene but when I was in high school
holocene but when I was in high school my friend Hector he founded this
my friend Hector he founded this
my friend Hector he founded this application to go to upper bound at
application to go to upper bound at
application to go to upper bound at Occidental College and I first I was
Occidental College and I first I was
Occidental College and I first I was reluctant cuz I didn’t know how to read
reluctant cuz I didn’t know how to read
reluctant cuz I didn’t know how to read and write at grade level
and write at grade level
and write at grade level I was gifted in math but when it came to
I was gifted in math but when it came to
I was gifted in math but when it came to reading and writing I wasn’t prepared so
reading and writing I wasn’t prepared so
reading and writing I wasn’t prepared so I got the application and I said no I’m
I got the application and I said no I’m
I got the application and I said no I’m not gonna apply Knight threw it in the
not gonna apply Knight threw it in the
not gonna apply Knight threw it in the trash and then he was so desperate just
trash and then he was so desperate just
trash and then he was so desperate just like me to get out but he was more
like me to get out but he was more
like me to get out but he was more desperate he got the application he
desperate he got the application he
desperate he got the application he ironed it and then so we send it out and
ironed it and then so we send it out and
ironed it and then so we send it out and I thought I wasn’t gonna get in I got it
I thought I wasn’t gonna get in I got it
I thought I wasn’t gonna get in I got it I got into this residential program was
I got into this residential program was
I got into this residential program was for the first time people that look like
for the first time people that look like
for the first time people that look like me
me
me we’re telling me that I can go to
we’re telling me that I can go to
we’re telling me that I can go to college so because of that because of
college so because of that because of
college so because of that because of that belief I was admitted to UCLA as a
that belief I was admitted to UCLA as a
that belief I was admitted to UCLA as a freshman as a math major in 1985 that’s
freshman as a math major in 1985 that’s
freshman as a math major in 1985 that’s where I met my wife after she took the
where I met my wife after she took the
where I met my wife after she took the restraining order off you know we got
restraining order off you know we got
restraining order off you know we got married but that’s it
married but that’s it
married but that’s it that’s another story I have like so many
that’s another story I have like so many
that’s another story I have like so many TED talks I might as well just go next
TED talks I might as well just go next
TED talks I might as well just go next you know like hey but with the support
you know like hey but with the support
you know like hey but with the support of my wife she supported me and with her
of my wife she supported me and with her
of my wife she supported me and with her support I was able to return after
support I was able to return after
support I was able to return after spending years of organizing in the
spending years of organizing in the
spending years of organizing in the community to graduate school where I
community to graduate school where I
community to graduate school where I received my badge my master’s in urban
received my badge my master’s in urban
received my badge my master’s in urban planning at UCLA and also with the with
planning at UCLA and also with the with
planning at UCLA and also with the with their support she encouraged me to
their support she encouraged me to
their support she encouraged me to pursue a PhD so I did so at UC Berkeley
pursue a PhD so I did so at UC Berkeley
pursue a PhD so I did so at UC Berkeley and city and regional planning and
and city and regional planning and
and city and regional planning and because of the privilege that I have of
because of the privilege that I have of
because of the privilege that I have of being highly educated I was able to
being highly educated I was able to
being highly educated I was able to secure a tenure-track position here at
secure a tenure-track position here at
secure a tenure-track position here at Cal Poly Pomona and it’s a great
Cal Poly Pomona and it’s a great
Cal Poly Pomona and it’s a great University recently the New York Times
University recently the New York Times
University recently the New York Times indicated that we’re number five in the
indicated that we’re number five in the
indicated that we’re number five in the nation in promoting upward mobility from
nation in promoting upward mobility from
nation in promoting upward mobility from working-class students to join the
working-class students to join the
working-class students to join the middle class so that’s a great
middle class so that’s a great
middle class so that’s a great accomplishment you know from our great
accomplishment you know from our great
accomplishment you know from our great University so over the years as I wrap
University so over the years as I wrap
University so over the years as I wrap up I’ve been advocating for the poor los
up I’ve been advocating for the poor los
up I’ve been advocating for the poor los llevo
llevo
llevo people like myself people that look like
people like myself people that look like
people like myself people that look like me first generation that go to college
me first generation that go to college
me first generation that go to college son of immigrants for not not having any
son of immigrants for not not having any
son of immigrants for not not having any role models to emulate by forcing myself
role models to emulate by forcing myself
role models to emulate by forcing myself to be that role model you know for
to be that role model you know for
to be that role model you know for younger people and people always ask you
younger people and people always ask you
younger people and people always ask you know how do you do it you know and I say
know how do you do it you know and I say
know how do you do it you know and I say to myself I didn’t learn to be
to myself I didn’t learn to be
to myself I didn’t learn to be successful because of the professors at
successful because of the professors at
successful because of the professors at Berkeley or UCLA or my colleagues here
Berkeley or UCLA or my colleagues here
Berkeley or UCLA or my colleagues here at Cal Poly I learned it from the
at Cal Poly I learned it from the
at Cal Poly I learned it from the Mexican from the immigrant the
Mexican from the immigrant the
Mexican from the immigrant the risk-taker the person that sacrifices
risk-taker the person that sacrifices
risk-taker the person that sacrifices you know like my mother people that give
you know like my mother people that give
you know like my mother people that give up their dreams so that their children
up their dreams so that their children
up their dreams so that their children can live a better life so when people
can live a better life so when people
can live a better life so when people blame the immigrants for America’s walls
blame the immigrants for America’s walls
blame the immigrants for America’s walls we have to realize that they deserve
we have to realize that they deserve
we have to realize that they deserve dignity and
dignity and
dignity and spec and I dedicate this speech to my
spec and I dedicate this speech to my
spec and I dedicate this speech to my mother to my wife and my son which is
”
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