We are two Americans with different family histories whose paths converged when we got involved with one of the nation’s largest Hispanic charter school operators. At the peak of our efforts a couple of years ago, the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) Charter School Network enrolled more than 7,600 mostly Mexican-origin students in K-12 educational programs across Chicago.

Given our longstanding preoccupation with the challenges facing Mexican Americans, we were dismayed by Donald Trump’s provocative campaign rhetoric. But as political realists, we were also sobered by his words, because they highlighted the Mexican-American community’s lack of influence and power.