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The Promise of America by William Sanchez

After the disturbing events of January 6, 2021, the future of American democracy depends upon restoring the people’s belief in its fundamental systems and values, according to immigration attorney and U.S. Senate candidate (2022) William Sanchez in The Promise of America

This autobiography of sorts introduces Sanchez to a larger audience outside of Florida, where he unsuccessfully ran for Senate in the 2022 primaries. Running as a Democrat, Sanchez placed third in Florida’s Democratic Primary election — a notable achievement for a first-time candidate.

From Cuba to Spanish Harlem to Miami

Sanchez begins with what matters most to him: family. He gives a touching tribute to his parents, Cuban exiles from Fidel Castro’s Communist regime, and how “they gave my brothers and me the opportunity to live in history’s most significant country.” The political oppression of Castro hit close to the Sanchez family, as one of the first victims to fall to “the revolution’s firing line” was his uncle. 

He recalls in thrilling details some of the “near misses” his father — a devout Catholic and anti-Communist — experienced before successfully escaping Cuba and the clutches of Castro as a refugee to America’s shores. His seven-month-pregnant mother arrived in New York City in September 1961 and gave birth to Sanchez just five weeks later; his father followed a year later. 

Spending his early childhood in the diverse area of New York known as Spanish Harlem, Sanchez credits his time in that “multicultural metropolis” as one that prepared him for much of his future endeavors fighting for the rights of immigrants. By 1972, the Sanchez family relocated to Miami where they put down permanent roots. 

Passionate Belief in Human Rights

Sanchez moves easily from chronicling his childhood into more spiritual concerns, sharing his explorations of Judaism that led him to discover Sephardic ancestors who were forcibly converted to Catholicism during the time of the Spanish Inquisition.

His passionate belief in human rights and helping others led Sanchez to many exciting overseas adventures, such as when he worked in a Vietnamese Refugee Center in Palawan, Philippines, in 1984. Sanchez recalls many poignant moments working amongst and for refugees, including his excitement a year out of law school to work at the Haitian Refugee Center, representing indigent refugees in court on various matters, including political asylum. 

As an immigration lawyer, Sanchez has seen the insides of hundreds of detention centers, jails, and prisons, and witnessed harsh treatment of inmates, all of which “strengthened my resolve to zealously advocate for immigrant clients, especially those detained for a civil offense, not a criminal one.”

Striving to Repair Country’s Tarnished Ideals

Sanchez moves from the personal to the political as he lays out his differences with the previous presidential administration, as well. Believing everything his parents told him of America as “the land of opportunities,” Sanchez says he still believes in the country’s ideals but former President Donald Trump has tarnished them:

“He has ridiculed and criticized marginalized communities in ways never seen in my lifetime by a sitting president. His strategy was to reinstitute and reinvigorate the old vestiges of racism. He openly encouraged average citizens to vehemently treat those most in need prejudicially.”

This attempt to make harmful behavior “the new normal” was the impetus for Sanchez to run for political office, he claims. Citing the fact that his U.S. Senate Florida Democratic primary run tallied more votes “than any other newcomer to politics,” one understands why Sanchez decided to put his principles and values into book form. Will Sanchez throw his hat into the political ring again? Time will tell, but The Promise of America lays out an inspiring case for this new voice in American politics.


About William Sanchez:

William Sanchez was born in NYC, in 1961, the son of Cuban exiles who fled Communism and the Castro regime. He grew up in New York’s diverse Spanish Harlem. As senior partner of the family law firm he has always defended marginalized communities, especially refugees and immigrants. The January 6th insurrection inspired him to run for US Senate, focusing on protecting the democracy. He received more votes than any other newcomer in the 2022 US Senate Democratic primary.

Buy this Book!

Amazon
The Promise of America by William Sanchez
Publish Date: 12/26/2022
Genre: Nonfiction, Politics
Author: William Sanchez
Page Count: 152 pages
ISBN: 9798371298348
Peggy Kurkowski

Peggy is a professional copywriter for a higher education IT nonprofit association by day and a major history geek at night. She hosts her own YouTube channel, The History Shelf, where she features and reviews history books (new and old), as well as a variety of fiction. In addition to BookTrib, she also reviews for Library Journal, Publishers Weekl, BookBrowse Review, Historical Novels Review, Shelf Awareness, and the Washington Independent Review of Books. She is also the Art Director and Editorial Board Member of the Saber & Scroll Journal, as well as a freelance member of the National Book Critics Circle.