Border Justice Events

The play “The Crossing”, written and produced by James Garcia, is a moving experience about a tragic day when 14 people perish in the Phoenix desert migrating from Mexico. This emotional display depicts the desperateness of the Mexican people to risk their lives to find a better place, a better life, in America.   

            The scene opens with a border patrol officer finding an educated female (school teacher), who has fallen from exhaustion.  The woman discovers that the officer was also an illegal immigrant, crossing the desert with his family as a small boy.  She pleads with him to help her cross, explaining that they are the same.  He refuses, thinking he is different…he is American.  The woman explains that her sister was one of the 13 that perished, dying in her arms.  Ironically, the officer admits that he also lost a sibling crossing, a brother.  When the woman realizes that the officer is not going to help her, but arrest her and send her back to Mexico, she grabs his gun.

After her long, tragic struggle through the desert, the woman did not want to be sent home.  To return to the life she left.  She did not want to return to her home without her sister.  She just couldn’t go on.  Not seeing any alternative…she shot herself. 

Fourteen people died that day in search of a better life.

The officer realized that they were the same.  We all are the same. 

The Mexican immigrants are simply in search of employment.  This female was an educated woman, willing to work as “cheap labor” cleaning houses and making beds.  The illegal immigrants are not asking for a “free ride”, they just want an acceptable standard of living for their families.  Isn’t that what we all want?

            Another performance produced by James Garcia was the first act of the play “American Latino Redacts.”  This was a comical delivery of a serious topic; the struggles of the Latino population to fit into American society. 

            The main character was a Latino man whose family has been in America for generations.  Although he is an American male, he is not seen or accepted by his American peers as an equal.  The fact that his ancestors were of Mexican and Spanish decent, the American public has labeled him a “Chicano, a Spic”.  The Anglo-American population assumes he does not speak English; he is lazy and looking for free hand outs, as well as other stereotypes. 

            The act continues as the main character’s three egos appear, representing the three sides to his personality.  One is the Euro-white male, with American mainstream beliefs.  The second is the sensitive, caring side.  Third, his macho Latino side that is trying to maintain a portion of his heritage and who is angered by the prejudices inflicted on him. 

The character’s struggles brought about awareness of the prejudices of the Latino population.  America is a country that is built on emigrants coming to this country in search of a better life.  A country based on freedom and justice for all, the land of opportunity.  Not just the land of opportunity for those that fit the mainstream Anglo society.  

 I am from an emigrant family.  I am second generation born in America.  When my grandfather came to the United States, he decided to denunciate his Slovenian heritage and become “American”.  This gesture saddens me; however, it seems the struggle continues.  Emigrants should not have to give up their customs, language, and beliefs to live in our country.  Yes, I believe they should acclimate to the country in which they migrate to; yet, there should be a balance of where they came from and where they are.  This diversity is what enriches our Northern American culture.