Gregory Lindsey
Photographer
Jiayan Jenny Shi
Photographer
Rachel Reed
Documentarian
Stories Hanging
In the Balance
"I believe the reason I exist, the reason I was brought from one country to another illegally and had to go through everything that I went through, is to help me understand my purpose is life – to give kids in my neighborhood a white canvas to express themselves with."
" I could slide by because of the color of my skin and because people see me as an educated person. People never questioned my status, like they would never think that I was undocumented. So, I use that little bit of privilege that I have to tell others, “This is what an undocumented person looks like.” No we’re not lazy, we’re not playing the system or criminals or drug dealers. No, we’re people who work and who are trying to raise families; good contributing members of society. This is what a typical undocumented immigrant looks like."
“I used to stutter and I never thought I was going to be a storyteller. Just getting up on the stage and sharing my story with people, I think, ‘That can’t be me, that’s not me.’ How the hell did that happen? How did I come from Guatemala, undocumented, a little kid who used to stutter and now I have my documents in order and I can get up on stage and tell stories to people?”
