By: Gillian Adkins
No one had told Javier Zamora’s story, so he wrote it himself.
Zamora came to Dominican to talk about his experiences as a 9-year-old undocumented immigrant, which are also the subject of his memoir, Solito. University Ministry’s PASOS network organized Zamora’s appearance before a packed Lund Auditorium, Oct. 12
When asked who has represented his lived experience as an undocumented person he said, “No one.” After he immigrated to the U.S, there were no books like his he could read.
PASOS Director Armando Guerrero Estrada said this is why diverse speakers are important. Undocumented students deserve people who share their stories on stage.
In Zamora’s memoir, he describes his journey coming to the United States, unaccompanied, from El Salvador. Published September 6th, 2022, Solito was a New York Times bestseller and won numerous awards, including the Los Angeles Times Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiography and The American Library Association’s Alex Award.
Solito is dedicated to those “who taught him he could love everyone”. He explained that love is what’s missing from stories about immigration. Journalists only cover the pain and sadness or seek to criminalize immigrants. But Zamora says that it’s the love and compassion that helped him get through the pain. He said the message he wants readers to take away from the book is to think about everyone.
Compassion almost has an expiration date when people talk about immigration. Oftentimes, people focus on the children and forget about the adults.
“What happens to the adults? The moment you are not received as a child you can’t get papers,” said Zamora.
He went on to explain that everyone deserves to be looked on as full, complete human beings entitled to compassion. Zamora recounted that his art tells stories that people have died trying to tell.
“Art is always political and if you say differently you should read more books or you shouldn’t be writing at all.”
Sophomore Yosgarth Calderon said he was deeply moved by the talk.
“I felt inspired by his story because he came as a kid and now he’s able to write about his experience, so that motivates me to create my own story,” he said, pausing briefly. “It was good to finally see someone talk about the undocumented experience on stage instead of a one-on-one conversation.”
Junior Valentina Mayorga said she “was blown away” by the talk and enjoyed how Zamora spoke about love and compassion for all undocumented people.
Audience members were very engaged throughout the talk. People called out to agree with Zamora while he talked. Some stood up to clap or snap their fingers. When you turned your head to look at people, you could see them nodding their heads at what Zamora was saying. And at the end of the event Zamora was met with a standing ovation.
gadkins@my.dom.edu
Contact Information
Valentina Mayorga- vmayorga@my.dom.edu
Yosgarth Calderon- ycalderon@my.dom.edu
Javier Zamora- aguerreroestrada@dom.edu
