Melinda Palacio
The week began on a somber, but hopeful note. The humidity and 96-degree weather reminded me of Panama. Like Panama, New Orleans is one of my favoriteplaces, and one of the mostunique cities in the world. Many who don’t appreciate the beauty of the rivercity and its diversity would have written New Orleans off the map when thewater kept rising after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The city bounced back andmuch of the clean-up and rebuilding effort came from immigrants who now callNew Orleans home.
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| Standing with the Southern 32 in front of the Hale Boggs Federal Building in New Orleans. |
Last Friday, I stood with the Southern 32, agroup of jornaleros who experienced violations to their civil rights, who choseto stand up for justice.
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| Jacinta Gonzalez with the Southern 32 and Delmy Palencia with her 16-month-old son Josue. |
Members of the community came out to support the Southern 32. Thanksto the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice, www.nowcr.org, and the organization's vivacious leaders, such asJacinta Gonzalez, day laborers have a place to call when fear is used to abuse their civil rights.
The types of traps, wage theft, unconstitutional treatment,unlawful arrest, and “payday raids” by immigration agents, tipped off byemployers who refused to pay workers or provide safety equipment, is a move outof Arizona’s playbook.
In a powerful speech by Delmy Palencia, 35, spoke tothe group about the struggles she has endured. She has been humiliated andseparated from her nursing son, and undergone an unconstitutional arrest byICE. “As women we have to stand up for our children, our families, ourcommunities, and ourselves,” she said. Palencia left behind two daughters in Honduras.
Part of the reason why I wrote Ocotillo Dreams was to bringto light the different types of issues surrounding undocumented workers.
This week also brought a whirlwind ofbuzz for the novel, beginning with an interview by Adela Najarro at Letras Latinas, news that Ocotillo Dreams is the book of the month atthe Latina Book Club,and (the excitement continues), La Casa Azul Bookstore in New York named Ocotillo Dreams as the #1 Best Seller in June.
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| La Casa Azul Bookstore's best sellers display. |
I am grateful to Aurora Anaya-Cerda for giving me one of thevery first book signing events at La Casa Azul Bookstore in East Harlem, two days after I had wonthe Mariposa Award for Best First Book and received an Honorable Mention in the Historical Fiction category at the Instituto Cervantes in Manhattan.I love New York.
What’s next?
On the fourth of July, Glimmer Train informed me that my new short story was a Finalist in their Family Matters competition and received an Honorable Mention. I earned extra sparklers, according to my friend Jocelyn. After 10 years of rejections from the literary journal,the editors finally gave me a nod. I’m one step closer to winning. And allbecause I am not afraid of rejection.
Events: Tomorrow in New Orleans, Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 2pm, I join the Poetry Buffet at the Latter Library.
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