Through letters written by daughters and grandsons of immigrants, this photo essay offers a better perspective on who these individuals are — humanizing them, disconnecting them from the negative political rhetoric of criminals, aliens, and unintelligent people, and instead portraying them accurately, as loving, nurturing, and caring.
Thank you. Thank you for your unwavering love. Thank you for providing a home, food, and the clothes on my back. You bring me comfort and a feeling not given by many. Thank you for making this life easy.
Like any father-daughter pair, we have our ups and downs, but your love is a remedy for sadness. A cure for strife. The solution to every equation that
comes my way.
Thank you for being here and guiding me with a watchful eye. I love you, now and forever.
Sincerely,
Your Oldest Child
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and how you’ve impacted my life. You’ve supported my dreams and made me feel special and that I can do anything I wanted. You’re one of the hardest workers I can think of, and it drives me to push forward in my life. Whether it’s watching you work out in the backyard constantly or knowing that you worked every holiday until I was born to support the family. Your kindness (although tough) is unmatched and I know I’ll always have someone to talk to about anything. I look forward to and love all the stories you tell me about your home and your parents. They teach me many lessons like being grateful for everything I have. I’m proud of my roots because of you. I’m overly proud to be your grandson.
Love Knoah
I thank you for the oceans you put between us. Your distance could be looked at as a bad thing- people tend to not understand that it has never been negative. Because your love has never been subtracted, even when the plane moved further away. It has never been negative because you gave me – you gifted me – who I am: from soca on the hot beach in July to hot cross buns with fishcakes on Good Friday.
Your love, the one that is the base of our foundation, has always been on time, even if the zones are different. I wouldn’t and couldn’t love what I love, love who I love, or be who I am without you.
There is no doubt that you care for me in the way a father should- hair and nails paid for, money to my mom on time, every month- makes you not negative in other’s eyes. But I know, and always will know, that our connection you crafted is as strong as the coral barrier that protects our island. And that makes you forever not negative in mine.
Love your daughter.
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to give the twins and I the best life that you could create in a country that’s not the nicest to you!
I am so thankful for you in ways that most won’t understand. You are so creative and passionate about feeding us knowledge and wisdom.
Thank you for all the beautiful memories!
Love, K!
