This picture which shows my favorite aunt during her younger years always reminds me of the challenging obstacles my aunt and father went through to start their new life with my grandma and grandpa. growing up as a Mexican American I never really knew where my father came from. it was a topic that was never discussed, or the answer was always the same "In Mexico with your abuela". I knew they immigrated at a young age when my dad was around 4 and my aunt 6. After the constant push from the truth behind my dad’s history. It was in my 6th grade year where a project consisted of a family tree. I was bound to get answers and I did. My father explained how in the picture was my aunt’s 4th birthday and it was the last before they started their new life in America. As my father would explain the journey to American it reminded me of the troubles that Mexican Americans faces. A week after the picture was taken my father had started his new life in Compton California. My aunt would always tell me how that picture always brought her joy. I never knew why an old faceless picture would have such meaning. It was what my aunt said after that made me realize why. I asked her “how could you get meaning from a picture that doesn’t even show your face but your head”. She replied in a sweet glaring look “because mijo in that very moment I wished for one thing and one thing only, to start a new life in America”. I learned the Dearing symbolism a faceless picture could present. Its true what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. 

– DA

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant