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DREAM IN COLOR: How
the Sánchez Sisters
Are Making History in
Congress
“So many people have
inspired us, taught us
to fight for the things
that are important to us.
This book is our way of
returning the favor. We
want to share our
experiences with others—the
young girls who are
developing their
strengths and the women
who are still
discovering theirs—and
encourage them to dream
big. Because when you
put your mind—and your
heart—to it, you really
can accomplish amazing
things.”
—Linda Sánchez and
Loretta Sánchez
In January 2003, Loretta
and Linda Sánchez became
the first sisters in
Congress. Before this,
1,881 relatives had
served in the House, but
never sisters. Why did
it take so long? And
what enabled them to
finally break through
this barrier?
Take a behind-the-scenes
look at their joint and
individual experiences.
After all, despite
sharing the same
background, they are two
very distinct
individuals.
Loretta
I’m the second among
seven kids, Linda’s
number six. Initially,
my role was to help keep
the home orderly,
because my mother had so
much to do. But as I
began experiencing
things that our parents
never had, I turned into
a sort of scout for the
younger siblings. |
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Our parents wanted all
of their kids to go to
college, but when I was
applying, there was no
one to advise me. By the
time Linda got to that
point and, at first,
considered only Cal
State Fullerton, I said,
“You can go to Berkeley,
you can go to Brown, you
can go to Harvard.” She
said, “But I’m not smart
enough to get into those
colleges,” to which I
rolled my eyes and
responded, “You’re smart
enough to get into all
of those colleges! It’s
just a matter of what
you want to study.”
Linda
Dad wanted his girls to
go to college, but he
meant Cal State
Fullerton, so that we’d
still be living at home.
When he learned I’d
enrolled in Berkeley he
was not happy, but it
was too late. I’d
already paid my tuition,
and he would never waste
money by saying I
couldn’t go.
Loretta
It was much the same
with politics. I went
through the experience
of running for Congress
first, although politics
is much more in Linda’s
blood than in mine. It
helped that, when she
decided to run, I
already knew the ropes.
Linda
I remember the day I
called Loretta and told
her I wanted to run.
“You’re always talking
about how we need more
qualified women in
office, and how we need
more Latinos to reflect
this country’s diversity.
You know I’m qualified.”
“You’re right,” she said.
“I’m going to help you.”
Which she did, even
after I’d entered the
House. Of course,
sometimes her help was
less appreciated. Once,
I was talking trade with
some colleagues when
Loretta interrupted,
“Have you had your flu
shot yet?” I was in mid-sentence
so I signaled no, only
for her to wag her
finger at me, “You have
a tendency to get sick.
You’d better get your
shot right away!” There
I was, discussing
serious issues, and I
felt like a kid being
told to put on clean
underwear. But that’s
Loretta—part sister,
part mother.
Loretta
Well, what’s wrong with
that?
Linda
Loretta and I have quite
distinct personalities.
But we also share
several traits. With
this book we hope we can
make an impact,
inspiring people and
helping them understand
what it takes to get
things done.
Loretta
Our parents thought we
could be whatever we
wanted to be. That
applies to everyone.
You’ve got to allow
yourself to dream, and
then you must exploit
the ways in which to
achieve that. And you
have to be yourself.
Washington is very
stifling in terms of how
others want you to act .
. .
Linda
. . . and look and speak.
But when you know who
you are, what you’re
about, and what you want
to accomplish, people
are drawn to that. You
don’t have to conform to
other people’s ideas of
what you should be.
Everyone can make an
incredible difference in
this world. It doesn’t
matter if you’re part of
a minority, from humble
beginnings or started
out with more obstacles
than the average person.
Loretta and I overcame
all those challenges,
and we’ve learned how
important it is to be
the person that you
fundamentally are.
From the book DREAM IN
COLOR: How the Sánchez
Sisters are Making
History in Congress, by
Congresswomen Linda and
Loretta Sánchez with
Richard Buskin.
Copyright (c) 2008 by
Linda Sánchez and
Loretta Sánchez.
Reprinted by permission
of Grand Central
Publishing, New York,
NY. All rights reserved.
By Congresswomen Linda
Sánchez and Loretta
Sánchez
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