As immigration becomes more hotly debated in the United States, the arguments have become cartoonish, with one side often painted as naïve and another as xenophobic. What has become lost is the human story of immigration to America, with all its complexity, heartache, and hope. Carlos Gil, emeritus professor of history at the University of Washington, sought to understand immigration by tracing his family’s history from the 1920s to the 1970s. In the process, he discovered the excitement, culture shock, inter-family conflict, and questions of identity that many immigrants face when seeking a better life in another country.

In this talk Gil explores Mexican immigration by spotlighting his own family’s experience in southern California, including parallels with Washington State. Cosponsored by the Common Reading Program, the Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service, and Humanities Washington. Verification of attendance available.