To Whom It Does Not Concern
Kylee Conriquez
To my dad’s high school counselor at Roosevelt High in 1960,
You said “Your kind don’t go to college, they board the buses every week
to auto shops around the city and learn to be mechanics.”
To the man in the restaurant,
You told my dad he wasn’t “allowed to eat” there and glared at him while
he was trying to enjoy his meal.
To my dad’s foster family,
You locked my dad in a closet without food and water, and collected your
money until he ran away.
Your words and actions mean nothing. It is in our blood, the
repression of our people, only makes us more resilient.
You may try to beat us down but you will never succeed. We are
kind, hard working, loving, & strong.
To my dad,
thank you for raising me to be like you. Thank you for exuding love when the
world didn’t express any for you. Thank you for all that you endured so that
I can have a good life. I love you, forever and always. te amo, Papá. You have
made your family proud.
Love,
Your Daughter
You said “Your kind don’t go to college, they board the buses every week
to auto shops around the city and learn to be mechanics.”
To the man in the restaurant,
You told my dad he wasn’t “allowed to eat” there and glared at him while
he was trying to enjoy his meal.
To my dad’s foster family,
You locked my dad in a closet without food and water, and collected your
money until he ran away.
Your words and actions mean nothing. It is in our blood, the
repression of our people, only makes us more resilient.
You may try to beat us down but you will never succeed. We are
kind, hard working, loving, & strong.
To my dad,
thank you for raising me to be like you. Thank you for exuding love when the
world didn’t express any for you. Thank you for all that you endured so that
I can have a good life. I love you, forever and always. te amo, Papá. You have
made your family proud.
Love,
Your Daughter
Kylee A. Conriquez is a children’s book illustrator who has her B.A. in studio art from Humboldt State University. She has recently published her own coloring book and is currently working with an author on illustrating her second children’s book about flowers. Kylee enjoys creating vibrant illustrations with unique perspectives and working in mixed media. In her free time, she creates whimsical stained glass for her glass business. Kylee’s excitement for nature, wildlife, and speaking to her inner child comes through in her art. Although colorful and exciting, her work can also connect readers to varied important and complex issues. She was the proud recipient of the 2020-2021 Albert and Mildred Van Duzer Art Scholarship while she was a student and hopes that she has made the committee proud thus far with her post-collegiate work. To see more of Kylee’s work and published books, Visit: KyleeConriquezArt.com
