By Xico González
Art Group: Revoltoso
This poem was written to acknowledge the original dreamers; the parents and older siblings of the individuals that qualify for the DREAM Act. I created to posters that were used at immigrants’ rights rallies in Sacramento, and those posters inspired this poem. I read this poem at rallies and marches in Sacramento, at a DREAMers’ conference, and at poetry reading in Sacramento and in Davis, CA.
Illustration by Sacramento Immigration Alliance.
Original Dreamers
Xico González, C/S
In the immigrants’ rights movement
often times we hear of the Dreamers
with their graduations gowns
fists in the air
and beautiful butterflies
Marchas, rallies and sit-ins
that lead to deportations
Sacrificios de sueños soñados
In senators’ offices
self-sacrificing dreamers
get arrested and deported
to prove a point:
the US immigration system is broken
For the dreamers,
la escuela o los guachos
Dos caminos
that end in papeles and green cards
Let me ask you a question,
what about the original dreamers?
Who speaks for them nowadays?
They have sueños too
Have we forgotten about the
padres, madres
hermanos y hermanas
that came to the US too old to go to school
or join the armed forces
They have sueños too
Pero le tubieron que chingar
In low paying jobs
como los files, la construcción, los hoteles,
rich people’s homes, and restaurants
You know the ones bumping
cumbias, norteñas, banda y racheras
in the kitchen
the ones that yell,
“Apurate güey,”
“ya esta listo güey,”
“No mames güey,”
They have sueños too,
They dreamed that their children
will have a better life in this country
instead of discrimination and exploitation
They have sueños too
Migra raids at workplaces
that lead to deportations
Sacrificio de sueños soñados
For the original dreamers,
el trabajo y la explotación
Dos caminos
que los llevan al miedo y a las sombras
They have sueños too
Jesús
El jóven que trabaja en la construcción en la Bahía
has dreams too
María
La señora que cuida güeritos en Hollywood Hills
has dreams too
Jóse
El señor que trabaja en los files del Valle de San Joaquín
has dreams too
So let us help the original dreamers
dream their dreams of a better future
without the fear of being deported,
Exploited and used
Next time you hear of the Dreamers
think of their parents and siblings
because they share the same dream
They have sueños too.