Home Our Poder Literacy ‘Somewhere We Are Human,’ a Unique Anthology About Undocumented Voices

‘Somewhere We Are Human,’ a Unique Anthology About Undocumented Voices

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Between a change of administration and more than two years of a pandemic, immigration and border stories seem to have been removed from the front pages. However, this does not imply that the experiences and individuals have ceased to exist.

According to Census Bureau figures, by 2021, there were an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. These are 11 million stories, experiences, and sufferings.

However, it is precisely the transformation of the immigrant experience into a matter of numbers that has caused the dehumanization of the millions of people who have no choice but to leave their country of origin.

That is why the work of Reyna Grande and Sonia Guiñansaca, editors of “Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and NewBeginnings,” is so crucial.

Created entirely by undocumented or formerly undocumented immigrants, “Somewhere We Are Human” is a journey of memory and longing of people who are newcomers to the United States, those who have been here for decades, and those who have ultimately chosen to leave or were deported. It is a unique collection of 44 groundbreaking essays, poems, and artworks by migrants, refugees, and Dreamers — including award-winning writers, artists, and activists — who illuminate what it is like to live undocumented today.

Through their stories and art, the contributors to this thought-provoking book remind us that they are still human. Beyond their current immigration status, they offer nuanced portraits of their existence before and after migration, the factors motivating their choices, the pain of leaving their homeland and starting over in a strange country, and their collective hunger for a future not defined by borders.

“Somewhere We Are Human” was compiled and edited by Reyna Grande, award-winning author of “The Distance Between Us,” and Sonia Guiñansaca, internationally acclaimed poet, cultural organizer, and social justice activist.

“Somewhere We Are Human” will be on sale on June 7, 2022.

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