The viewer sees Ashley as a caregiver to her siblings. The audience gets the sense that she does much more for her family than a typical American teenager. Ashley discusses why her mother named all of her siblings with the words “Ash” and how it symbolizes a, “meadow of trees with roots that establish us {their family} here in the United States”.
Clip 2: Dream Big, Work Hard
This clip begins with the principal of Ashley’s school making an announcement about the Softball team’s win and how they “have demonstrated that if you work hard, you can get to your dreams”. This is sharply contrasted with Ashley’s teacher giving a lecture on The New Deal and how it excluded protections for agricultural workers and domestic workers. The teacher points out how this allowed landowners to exploit Black and Brown workers, and that this mistreatment continues as many young people in their community are allowed to work unlimited hours in the fields. Ashley looks on, nervously shaking her leg, but says nothing.
Clip 3: History to Present
Ashley’s mother discusses why she came to the United States, her illness, her temporary Visa, and the 22 years that followed. As news of ICE raids reach them, Ashley and her mother worry about her undocumented status and the possibility of her getting deported. Ashley bemoans the fact that she has to work day and night while her brother gets to enjoy his youth. She wishes her life were easier and that she only had to worry about the trivial things that other girls her age have to worry about.
Sources
Authored by:
Celia Portman
Celia Portman is a first-generation Mexican-American educator living and working in San Antonio, Texas where she teaches 8th grade English Language Arts.
