“Most Americans have no culture or education; they only have entertainment.”
—Gore Vidal
“Most Americans have no culture or education; they only have entertainment.”
—Gore Vidal
These “yet to be United States of America”—James Baldwin’s phrasing—has forever been in denial about slavery and its central place in US history.
Trump’s MAGA—which followed the Obama era—digs even deeper in denial.
A country cannot change what it refuses to face.
Fixing a broken immigration system is possible. And it’s what the people want! Article by Omar G. Encarnación on @nytimes.com
12.08.2025 18:10 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Today marks my 32nd year in what James Baldwin calls “these yet to be United States.”
We all need to keep talking about solutions to our immigration problems. We cannot keep throwing our own tax dollars—billions of it!
We need real solutions for our broken immigration system from both Democrats and Republicans.
24.07.2025 19:17 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
Public attitudes toward immigrant enforcement are finally shifting. I spoke about it on PBS NewsHour.
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
#SupermanIsAnImmigrant
They say Superman shouldn’t be political — but he always has been.
Read the full story in @thr.com
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
Superman is America’s conscience wearing a cape — and that terrifies MAGA because they’re supporting a real-life Lex Luthor. @thr.com
Read my full piece on the Hollywood Reporter:
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
In 2012, I stood on the cover of TIME alongside other undocumented immigrants to call attention to a broken immigration system — yet here we are in 2025, still facing fear, attacks, and uncertainty in our communities.
Read the full story:
time.com/7300053/immi...
Honored to be part of Humanity First: Reframing Immigration Through the Lens of Dignity — a virtual panel hosted by The King Center on July 9 with Maria Teresa Kumar and Dr. Bernice A. King.
Join us!
Telling the stories of im/migrants with nuance and complexity has been my life’s work — and it began with my own.
Because of America’s broken immigration system, I was physically separated from my mother and sister for 31 years.
We reunited at last.
Watch our story now: youtu.be/D26-QdVWOXU?...
Meet the Man Funding DREAMers in Higher-Ed www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Gp...
29.04.2025 20:07 — 👍 4 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
Don Graham — former Washington Post publisher and co-founder of thedream.us — has spent decades advocating for undocumented students who grew up in the U.S. without a clear path to citizenship.
Watch the full episode now on youtube.com/DefineAmerican
Unpack America’s interdependence with immigrants in the latest episode: “Could America Survive Without Immigrant Nannies and Caregivers? with Ai-jen Poo"
Now streaming everywhere you get your podcasts www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzp7...
Yes, undocumented people pay taxes. Now the IRS is working w/ DHS to use confidential tax data against them. Don't miss this conversation with law professor Francine Lipman about the devastating impacts of IRS and DHS collaboration on both immigrants and our economy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fTC...
08.04.2025 15:03 — 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
"We subjugate those who we believe can be scapegoated..."
Listen to my conversation with @joseiswriting.bsky.social about the current political attitudes on immigration.
LINK HERE:
youtu.be/0UOOjs4Oyo0?...
“The attempt to pit us against one another — it will always fail.” Watch my full conversation with Rep. Lateefah Simon @replsimon.bsky.social youtu.be/0UOOjs4Oyo0?...
13.03.2025 21:05 — 👍 6 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
What can Democrats do to fight back against Trump's anti-immigrant agenda? I asked the top Democrat on the House Judiciary immigration subcommittee, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal @pramilajayapal.bsky.social @jayapal.house.gov
10.03.2025 19:52 — 👍 28 🔁 5 💬 2 📌 0
Glad to be reunited with my friend @joseiswriting.bsky.social to talk about how we can support our communities at home, envision a new narrative for immigration, and support our DREAMers and mixed status families. Look out for our full conversation coming soon!
07.03.2025 20:04 — 👍 24 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Tomorrow, I reunite with my mother and sister after 31 years. Migration is more than politics—it’s about people. Watch the full episode www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb34...
16.02.2025 23:32 — 👍 13 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
I’m 44 today—over 30 years spent fighting to be “legal.” Humanizing the immigrant narrative is my life’s work. For my b-day, subscribe to YouTube.com/defineamerican & share with 4 friends! We’ve got powerful episodes on undocumented artists, deportations, and more. Let’s keep the conversation going!
04.02.2025 01:27 — 👍 15 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 1
Catch the latest episode of Define American, where Maria Hinojosa and I discuss what the media gets wrong about immigration youtu.be/OGc5IEvSI_c
30.01.2025 04:23 — 👍 9 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
If you watch one thing today- watch this thought provoking conversation @defineamerican.bsky.social with @joseiswriting.bsky.social interviewing Maria Hinojosa
youtu.be/OGc5IEvSI_c
Last week, I joined a panel on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip. Ashley Allison shared that I was the first undocumented person she met as a public servant.
She made an important point: when you understand people’s stories and humanize them, they stop being reduced to stereotypes.
Fellow Fil-Am @joseiswriting.bsky.social reminds us undocumented #immigrants caught in deportation frenzy are the very people who deliver your DoorDash in the middle of blizzard, provide strawberries in your salad, lettuce in your hamburgers & do everything you don't want to do. #immigration
25.01.2025 16:26 — 👍 8 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
In the latest Define American episode, I’m joined by @paolamendoza.bsky.social to discuss the state of the resistance and the power of art in social change. Paola co-founded the 2017 Women’s March and is a filmmaker, author, and more.
Catch the full episode: youtu.be/Ob1OHE5EORo
Thank you for reading and sharing
21.01.2025 16:20 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Starting this #book today, and I feel it's a perfectly timed to #read.
DEAR AMERICA: NOTES OF AN UNDOCUMENTED CITIZEN by Jose Antonio Vargas
* About the book *
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist tackles one of the defining issues of our time in this explosive and deeply personal call to arms.
Thank you dear Shira
21.01.2025 16:20 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Thank you. What an exceedingly kind and generous thing to say.
21.01.2025 11:30 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
