Container

I was stunned to discover that the U.S. government has continued to separate families at our country’s borders. It was estimated that 4,300 families had been separated before the “no tolerance” policy was halted. Since then, at least 1,100 families have been split up. That’s over 5,000 families!

This horrifies me because my grandparents and parents were all subjected to unjust incarceration during World War II. What if this happened to my family now? Would I ever see them again? Being locked away in a detention center cut off from family, or anyone I know. Who can help me, who can I trust?

It’s a nightmare for many adults; how about for a child? What if there’s no one who understands me, who’s watching out for me? I’m terrified, I’m abandoned, I’m alone, I’m helpless, I’m lost. Will I live or die?

Step inside this container and imagine what it might be like. What do you feel? Should anyone be treated this way?

I hope you enter my exhibition, Transcendients: Heroes at Borders, to learn about the fearless individuals who advocate for the migrants and refugees at our southern borders as well as others who fight for those who face discrimination, prejudice, inequality, and other obstacles to dignity and freedom in our neighborhoods, in Los Angeles, and across our country. If you are like me, you’ll be touched by their stories, perhaps provoked into action, and be inspired to tell the story of a hero or two in your own life.

Photo Credits
US National Archives; CriticalPast; Retrofootage/Pond5; EasyStreet/Pond5; Atılgan Özdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images; Sky News/Getty Images; BlueCircleFilms/Pond5; Dorothea Lange/US National Archives; Clem Albers/US National Archives; Associated Press; Ansel Adams/Library of Congress; Bettmann/Getty Images; Fotosearch/Getty Images; Buyenlarge/Getty Images; Spencer Platt/Getty Images; Sergio Flores/The Washington Post/Getty Images; Loren Elliott/AFP via Getty Images; Mario Tama/Getty Images; Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images; Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images; CBP Photos/Alamy Stock Photo; Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo; Charles Reed/US Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Paul Jeffrey/Alamy Stock Photo; Norma Jean Gargasz/Alamy Stock Photo; Keith Gardner/US Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA; Paul Calvert/Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA; Larry Sharkey/Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA; Loomis Dean/The Life Picture Collection/Getty Images; Harry Pennington/Keystone Features/Getty Images; Leonard Nadel/Bracero History Archive