A Latina in the Paris Attacks

Below is a collaboration with Bianca Caban, a founder of Access Latina (if you missed her most recent post, take a look at it here).  When Bianca discovered that one of the American’s killed in the Paris attacks was a Latina, she became determined to find ways to honor her .(and is very much still working on this! We will keep you posted).

As portraits of the victims of the Paris terror attacks begin to emerge, we find that among them is an American Latina, 23 year old Nohemi Gonzalez, a design student at California State University studying abroad at the Strate College of Design.  Nohemi was a first generation Mexican-American raised by a hardworking family.  Her mother, a hairdresser, is someone Nohemi attributed her strength of character, independence, work ethic, and drive to succeed and improve in life.

Nohemi and her mother are shining examples of what Latinas represent. Contrary to some of the current political rhetoric about our community, Nohemi came from a hardworking, productive immigrant Latino family that prioritized education as a means to achieve economic independence and the American dream.  In a local news interview, Nohemi's mother explained how her daughter was very driven and goal-oriented, and her study abroad cohort at her school in Paris considered her the leader of their group. We have no doubt. Nohemi's story is an extraordinary one that many Latinas can identify with; she represents many of us. 

As one of the Americans killed thus far in the Parisian terror attacks, Nohemi has become one of the faces of America across the world within this atrocious event.  Her nationally and internationally recognized and mourned death underscores the shifting demographics of America.  American Latinos are working hard all around the world, building a better life for themselves and their families, and making America proud while doing so. We now have another angel watching over us, guiding us on our collective journey to prosperity and happiness in this nation and around the world.

If you are interested in supporting Nohemi’s legacy and her family, please get in touch with Bianca Caban by emailing bcaban@post.harvard.edu. You can also support Nohemi’s legacy by contributing to the following fund Nohemi Gonzalez Fund to Support International Study which will assist California State University, Long Beach students with international travel and study-abroad opportunities. 

We would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment below.  If you enjoyed this post, share it with your friends and family!

Lots of love,

Judith