In the 1980s and 1990s, hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans fled their homeland due to a brutal war sponsored by the United States. Thousands more have left in recent decades, drawn by family ties or to escape violence and economic hardship. Most families settled in cities like Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Others found refuge in distant places like Australia and Sweden.
This year at the Los Angeles Times, I'll be reporting a series of in-depth stories documenting what became of the Salvadorans who took part in this great migration.
In what profound ways were they shaped by their displacement? And how has their experience impacted the way we see and treat immigrants in the U.S. today?
In coming months, I'll be asking Salvadorans around the world to share their memories — of family, migration, injustice and resilience. I'll also be sharing bits of my own story as a Salvadoran born in El Salvador, just a week after the war erupted.
To participate in this storytelling project or to get updates and behind-the-scenes previews of our progress, sign up below. Now and then, I may also reach out for your feedback as we consider new ideas.
I'm excited to bring this project to life. Thank you so much.
Esmeralda Bermudez
Staff Writer
Los Angeles Times
Twitter: @BermudezWrites
Instagram: @BermudezWrites
Facebook: Esmeralda Bermudez