By Samantha Franco, Park Vista Community High School

Infographics by Danielle Ashby, Floyd Central and Emlyn McKinney Clarke, Central High School

I am my own ruler. I am not meant for a dictator. My skin is my own, my language is not yours to call uncivilized. This country is a land of freedom and democracy, or so you say. So, why is it that you will vacation to my native land, my country, you will eat my food and take in my culture as if it is some party for display? You will respect what you can gain, but you will not respect me or my family, everything that makes me, me. Why are you so scared of diversity?

I was in Arlington, VA on ‘No Kings’ Day. I saw protesters filling streets and my godfather honked at protesters as we passed bridges. My Instagram feed was full of the New York Times, @wetheurban, @diaryofaromantica and friends sharing posts speaking against dictatorship, censorship and a broken immigration system. I thought about how I was fortunate that both my parents are US citizens. But if I thought about my Tias and Tios, or friends, my heart broke at the thought of them being deported, imprisoned or having their families torn apart.

By Emlyn McKinney Clarke, Central High School

Since when did protesters need to wear goggles, gas masks and tactical gear to support causes they believe in? I see protests – no matter the platform used to do so – as a vital part of democracy. It is the responsibility of the people to speak against wrongdoing and bring about change. If the people directly, and indirectly, affected by social issues like immigration do not speak up then the policy and ideas surrounding it do not have the leverage for reform.

This is not new; this is an issue I have known my entire life. Mi mami es de El Salvador y mi papi es de Venezuela, y yo, su hija, nací aquí – en los Estados Unidos. Mi mami came here at 16, the same age I am now. She gave me extra work in the summer breaks between school to keep me academically stimulated, put me into sports, taught me how to cook and paid for me to join clubs. From Ciudad Dolores Cabañas, a small town, she had to go to another city to access a computer. She fundraised money and helped in Papita’s (my grandfather) store to go on trips to the waterpark – she had none of what I have, and yet she built a life for herself, for our family, so that we could have a better life.

Tell me, how could an administration punish a group of people for wanting a better life?

I am American, but that does not make me any less of a latina. Although I took my first breath in Silver Spring, MD, I learned Spanish first. Everything I was, up until about the age of four was platanos for breakfast, pupusas, arepas and pan con pollo – just to name a few favorites. It was going to the tienda latina and buying things from ‘home.’ It was dancing to bachata and reggaeton in the living room – and on special occasions my family and I would dance to the sound of mariachi bands.

Then preschool began. I learned how to speak English, which I am lucky was not much of a struggle for me, as it is for many who do not have English as their native language. Since then there has been a constant battle; this fear that I would lose who I was.

Imposter syndrome hits hard. It was everyone’s expectation that I get straight A’s, be kind, never be too promiscuous, and be the traditional view of a “perfect good girl”. I was always fighting an American’s view of our stereotypes; teen pregnancy, being uneducated, gang life and poverty. But at the same time I was fighting my own community’s view: “don’t lose your language,” “don’t be too white washed,” “don’t be a gringa or no sabo kid,” “you’re a half breed”.

Despite such language, I am both. I speak English and Spanish. I am proud to be both American and Hispanic. I am proud of my countries, culture and language. I am no lesser than anyone else. I am just as capable, smart, educated, skilled, deserving of opportunity and no one can tell me otherwise. My parents came a long way to raise me in a country where I could have better access to education, more extracurricular opportunities and a better quality of life in general.

Neither this administration, nor society, can silence me or take any part of my culture. We are here to stay and we will continue speaking up until real change takes place.

By Danielle Ashby, Floyd Central High School