PREFACE

Preface

2020 was a challenging year for humanity. The restaurant business, in particular, took a massive hit, with dozens unexpectedly laid off. The pandemic is especially troubling for all the men and women who are undocumented workers in the food industry. The middle-aged woman who runs the drive-thru of your local McDonald’s. The young man who works late nights in the kitchen of a steakhouse. Each is omnipresent in our daily lives yet disfranchised by issues we may never truly understand. Despite all of this, they are fighters who are critical and contributing members to the United States economy.

One of those fighters was once herself an undocumented worker, in that of my mother. Her role as a general manager of a Denny’s restaurant establishment has been shaken significantly but not broken. As a child who grew up intimately in the food industry, this past year has brought much thought to the level of sacrifice and determination required to cut it in America. My family’s backstory is not uncommon; in fact, it’s representative of a growing group of first-generation Americans.

I hope that readers will reconsider the concept of an immigrant through the personal accounts shared in this book. My goal is not to argue for or against immigration policy, but instead, to provide the context to its existence and success in the United States. Furthermore, the following story should serve to inspire future and current generations of immigrants. You can succeed in the United States.