Today, on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, I’m holding on to a moment that reminded me why I write, why I tell stories, and why I believe in the power of community.
This past weekend, I stood in front of the historic Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem — the oldest bookstore in America — to launch my book Your English is Great, But….
To stand in that space, holding a book that carries my bilingual and bicultural experiences, was surreal. It was about more than just pages and a cover. It was about every lived moment that led me there: learning English in classrooms where I was told to “speak properly,” covering stories in two languages for television, and carrying the voices of my community in newsrooms that don’t always look like us or sound like us.
This wasn’t just a book launch. It was a declaration that the American Dream is still alive and well.
It’s alive in the immigrants who arrive with hope, determination, and an accent that tells its own story.
It’s alive in the children of those immigrants who straddle languages and cultures, turning that balancing act into a strength.
It’s alive in the influence of the American Latino community, whose contributions — cultural, political, and economic — continue to make this country not only stronger, but more vibrant and more complete.
When I looked out at the crowd on Saturday, I saw more than readers. I saw generations. Parents with their kids. Elders who’ve lived the challenges and triumphs of migration. Students finding their voices. Friends and colleagues who’ve walked beside me through breaking news and long nights in the newsroom.
And right there with me, leading the conversation, were my colleagues and friends from 69 News, Jaciel Cordoba and Hernan Morissi. To have them at my side meant more than words can express. They’ve taught me, supported me, and reminded me that this work — whether on air or on the page — is never done alone.
Hispanic Heritage Month is often a time for recognition, for celebration, for shining a spotlight on contributions that sometimes go unseen. But for me, this year, it’s also deeply personal.
Launching this book is my way of saying: our stories matter. Our voices matter. Our identities — bilingual, bicultural, sometimes complicated, sometimes joyful — are not only valid, but essential to the American story.
Your English is Great, But… is available now at Moravian Book Shop and at VOZNYC.com/shop.
If you came out to the launch, thank you. If you’ve supported me along the way, thank you. If you’re just discovering this journey — welcome. This is only the beginning.
The American Dream is alive. And we — the American Latino community — are proof of it.
José
José Martínez 