Q. What is your favorite part of being Latina?
A. Our culture, history, and community fill me with pride.
Q. What is your superpower?
A. As I write in FIRST GEN, I sincerely believe that our differences are our superpowers. All the things that we think might disqualify us from belonging in new spaces are the very things that help us contribute unique and valuable perspectives. And the beautiful part is that the courage to share those differences with vulnerability is a superpower that simultaneously compels others to share their superpowers.
Q. Alejandra, we could use many words to describe the very personal journey you shared with the world in your book, but two words come to mind: rich and complicated. How would you summarize that journey for people who haven’t read the book yet?
A. I felt compelled to write FIRST GEN while giving talks to first gen students across the country, and feeling like a rundown of the bullet points on my resume was only furthering an incomplete narrative of social mobility and the American Dream. When the students shared their struggles, I recognized many of my own. Yet these widespread emotional experiences often weren’t validated or acknowledged publicly. I wanted to challenge the one-dimensional narrative of what it takes to achieve the American Dream and not just focus on the bullet points because the spaces between them are where the real story lies. FIRST GEN is the space between my bullet points.
Q. Everyone should read your book- from the first gens and trailblazers looking to give a name to the many experiences we go through to those who want to be allies, and probably anyone wishing to tap into our many talents- but who did you write it for?
A. I dedicate the book to those who I refer to as the “First and Onlys” – the “first generation” or the “only” person in a family to cross a societal threshold. Some of us are first-generation Americans or first-generation college students, or the “only” person of color in the room. There are many ways to be first gen. Yet, what unites us is what I call the “Trailblazer Toll,” the emotional cost of social and economic mobility. What has become clear since publishing FIRST GEN is that components of the Trailblazer Toll hit home for many – regardless of age, race, or geography. There are trailblazers of all kinds, and I hope they all feel seen when they read FIRST GEN.
Q. Your book tour has taken you all over the country, mostly speaking to young people. What have you learned?
A. My book tour has converted into a nationwide college tour, and I embrace that. It’s been a meaningful experience to meet and engage with these young people, and I hope to continue holding space for these conversations for the foreseeable future. I’ve also been speaking to first gen professionals as well as educators on my tour, which has been equally meaningful. So many of us share similar perspectives even though the specifics of our journeys may differ. Coming together to name the emotional experiences that have made us feel alone in the past only deepens our connection to one another. And it’s one of the critical messages of FIRST GEN: We can’t heal from that which we don’t name.
Q. Alejandra, you are also someone who has used your own harrowing experience with breast cancer to create important initiatives for women’s health. Tell us about those efforts and how we can help spread the word to our loved ones.
A. I come from a family where practically every woman over the age of 40 has had breast cancer. Because of this, I tested early for a BRCA mutation and discovered that this was the reason for my family’s generational struggle. I was struck by how few resources I could find about hereditary cancer, and breast cancer in general, targeted to Latinas in a culturally relevant way. I partnered with Penn Medicine’s Basser Center for BRCA to create LATINOS & BRCA, an initiative to raise awareness, provide education and resources, and build community. If you have a history of breast cancer in your family and meet the criteria, consider genetic testing. And always remember to perform regular self-exams and keep up with mammograms. Early detection can make all the difference.
Q. Who is another Latina we should feature on Informada?
A. My incredible amiga Norma Fabian Newton is a storytelling advocate, writer, and Founder of Fabian Flores Publishing. She uplifts books, art, and lifestyle content by Latinas and is just a soulful, dynamic creator and tastemaker. She recently went viral for her authentic and relatable reaction to being featured in Vogue Mexico!