My Midwest

Somewhere in the prairies, we all settled in the Midwest.

Growing Up, I have only seen the Mexican American Experiences depicted in west, east, or the south, never the Midwest. I’ve always chased this idea growing up, that the Mexican American Experience can only exist in there, that I’m not meant to be in Nebraska. This in turn made me unknowingly invalidate my experience, my own lens, and the community that has raised me. While my life in the Midwest has been full of ups and downs, nevertheless at the end of the day it is a Midwest experience. The community I grew up in where we work so hard to make a place so different from home look familiar. A place where home is a small neighborhood, a single block, a restaurant. Where our neighborhoods mingle with other immigrant from different backgrounds. Where the American concept is heightened and we are one of the ingredients in a melting pot. Where I felt like I could truly learn the duality and freedom of America. Despite people from our own state wanting to push our community out. They cannot take away from the fact that our experience is a part of the American Midwest, because this is our midwest too. 

My Midwest is a project aimed to highlight the Hispanic community in the Midwest, more specifically Nebraska.  To make visual representation, and highlight stories here.