A letter to all Latino graduates in 2026

This commencement speech was given by Dr. José F. Moreno at the Latino graduation at Cal State Long Beach:

Good Morning everyone!

¡Buenos días, mi gente hermosa! ¿A ver cómo estamos? ¿Estamos Happy!?

Before I say anything else… I just want to take a moment… to feel this with you.

To honor every sacrifice, every struggle, every prayer that brought us all to this beautiful day.

Today, we carry dreams —

dreams that did not begin with us…

but dreams that live through us.

As a faculty member — and as someone who grew up in a family that was undocumented and at one point detained, yet full of what Héctor Tobar calls “the Migrant Soul” — it is an honor to share this moment with you.

And today… It is especially personal and meaningful.

Because my daughter, Melina [Moreno], sits among you — graduating this year.

Living out the dreams of her grandparents who crossed borders with hope in their hands.

¡Felicidades, mija!

And felicidades to all of you, Graduates —

we see you.

We see the long nights…

the sacrifices…

the moments you sat there and wondered, “Can I really do this?” “Do I really belong here?”

And somehow… you kept going. Deserving of the flowers you have earned today.

If you are first-generation —

we see the pathways you have created with your ganas, your brilliance, your courage.

For those of you who may be second or third generation —

We see how you carried expectations that often felt heavy —

we see your strength.

If you left school and came back to finish, to fulfill your dreams —

we see your resilience.

If you were identified as having special needs through your educational career—

We see you for your assets and for your intelligence.

And to our immigrant students —

We see your courage… your fear… your hope and the love that carried you here.

Today--We see all of you for your tenacity, your ganas and your brilliance!

Padres, parientes y amistades — gracias.

Sin ustedes, este día no sería posible.

Hoy celebramos con orgullo…

porque en cada uno de estos graduados…

estamos todos.

Graduates, you carry more than a diploma.

You carry your parents’ dreams.

Your Abuelita’s’ prayers whispered late at night.

Your ancestors’ sacrifices — the ones you may never fully know.

You carry “our Migrant Souls.”

And you know some people dare ask, why do we need a Latino Graduation?

We celebrate… because the struggle is still real…la lucha continua.

Latinos are one of the fastest-growing communities in this country —

and yet, only a small percentage of us reach this moment. 

While there are over 63 million Latinos in the United States--projected to grow to over 100 million by 2060—today the United States is the 2nd largest Spanish-speaking country in the world and yet…

Only 20% of Latino adults in the U.S. have a college degree or higher; and only 16% of Latino adults in California have a college degree or higher.

So this — right here — is not ordinary.

Given our community’s history and struggle—

This is resistance.

This is love.

This is legacy.

Keep opening doors…

and don’t just walk through them —  remove those doors for those coming behind you.

Because your success… is never just your own.

Graduates — you are stepping into a world that will challenge you.

A world that will sometimes question you.

A world that may try to make you forget who you are.

Don’t let it.

Use your education not just to move up — but to lift up.

To stand for what is right.

To fight for what is just.

To live as our UndocuYouth proclaim—"unapologetic… and unafraid.”

Because when one of us rises — we all rise.

As Dolores Huerta reminds us:

“Every moment is an organizing opportunity…an opportunity to change the world.”

"Cada momento es una oportunidad para organizarnos…una oportunidad para cambiar el mundo."

And graduates —

you and your families are that change.

And Yes — it wasn’t easy.

This system was not built for you. It was not built for us.

But you showed up anyway.

You stayed anyway.

You succeeded anyway.

You are not just graduates.

You are history makers.

You are barrier breakers. You are path makers.

You are the answer to prayers spoken generations ago.

Representation matters… because you matter.

Because when you walk into those spaces —

you don’t just enter them…

You transform them.

You bring your language.

Your culture.

and as Bad Bunny says, “Your sazón.”

You bring us with you.

Stay true.

Stay rooted.

Stay proud.

Padres, parientes, y amistades — 

De nuevo, les damos las gracias por prestarnos sus hijos/as, sus primos/as, hasta tal vez sus papás/mamás. Todos sabemos que sin ustedes este día no sería posible.

Aquí estamos en este día con nuestros graduados con todo el orgullo de nuestra comunidad… por qué en cada uno de ustedes nos encontramos todos! 

Es un gran día …el día en que celebramos juntos y con todo orgullo y humildad declaramos que hoy, 

“Mi hijo, mi hija ; mi hermana/o ; mi primo/prima ; mi nieta/o ; mi querida/o ; o hasta mi papi mi mami  -- se recibió de la Universidad!” 

So--Today we celebrate. Hoy celebramos.

But tomorrow — we continue. Pero manana continuamos.

We open doors.

We make space.

We lift others as we rise.

And if you ever doubt yourself…

I ask you—

Remember the words of the Chicano poet Manuel Gomez, who proclaimed in the midst of social struggle for our gente’s freedom…

“I do not ask for freedom… I am freedom.”

A reminder of struggle — but also of identity, agency, power and self-determination.

Because we will not be defined simply as “no sabos” or their imaginary “aliens” or simply their “labor.” 

WE are what Dra. Diane Mendoza Nevarez, Chicano Studies de CSULB alum once said--

 “We are a beautiful, bold and brilliant people who nourish this country with joy, culture and yes brilliance!

We are not “less than.” And we will not be invisible. 

We are a people who have always shaped this country — and always will. 

¡Somos de aquí y de allá!

We are here.

And we are rising.

Remember this moment.

Hold onto it.

Remember your roots.

Remember your family.

Remember who you are.

May your roots always keep you grounded and inspired, and your futures shine with a brilliance and warmth that brings the world the joy and justice it so desperately needs and our ancestors dreamed of… 

¡Que vivan los latinos!

Abolish ICE!

¡Y que viva Palestina!

¡Sí se pudo!

¡Sí se puede!

¡Sí se podrá!

“Que sigan pa’lante, siempre pa’lante!"

¡Muchísimas gracias y felicidades!