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As a 2020 presidential candidate, Julián Castro proposed radically reforming United States immigration policy by putting people first. Previously he served as President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and spent three terms as mayor of San Antonio, Texas.

In 2018 Castro published his memoir, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream. He now serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for American Progress and is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.

Dr. Kendi and Castro sit down to discuss the common ground on which antiracist and pro-immigrant battles must be fought.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE DIALOGUE

  • Dr. Kendi and Secretary Julian Castro spoke a lot about the importance of telling the truth about the immigrant story. What stories can you speak to about immigration? Are you or someone you know a first generation, second, third, or even fourth generation immigrant?  
  • Dr. Kendi and Secretary Castro discussed how oftentimes our policies get over influenced by this demonization and the otherization of immigrants. Have you or anyone you know ever felt demonized or otherized by a certain community? How did you or someone you know handle that experience?
  • Secretary Castro has a very clear message about how immigration can be changed – he proposes “people first immigration.” What do you think about this approach and do you think this mindset is something that all Americans can learn to embrace? 
  • Dr. Kendi and Secretary Castro spoke about treating people humanely, no matter where they come from around the world. What approaches or steps have you, or even folks in your community, taken in support in other spaces, in other circles,Anti other than your own?

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The Host

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is the host of Be Antiracist. He is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University and the founding director of the BU…