Race/Related: The path from Latin America to the U.S. through one family’s eyes

The Aguilar Ortega family trekked through the jungle, hopped freight trains and toured Times Square.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 12, 2024 Henry Aguilar and his family presented their country's identification and birth certificates to a Border Patrol agent at the US-Mexico border crossing. Juan Arredondo for The New York Times 5,000 Miles, 8 Countries: A family's hard journey to the U.S., in photos By Luis Ferré-Sadurní and Juan Arredondo The three children had not bathed in four days. They had been sleeping in a makeshift tent on a dirty street outside a bus terminal in Mexico City, and Hayli, only 6, was developing a rash between her legs. But the parents could not spare the 20 pesos, or roughly $1, for a bucket shower. After a 55-day trek through Latin America, the five members of the Aguilar Ortega family were stranded more than 3,000 miles from their Venezuelan homeland, and almost as many miles from their intended destination: New York City. It had been a week since they had arrived in Mexico City, and they had no money to proceed north. The children — Hayli, Samuel, 10, and Josué, 11 — were in good spirits, imagining aloud what it would be like to live in New York. But for the parents, Henry Aguilar, 34, and his partner, Leivy Ortega, 29, the lull demanded a reassessment of what still lay ahead. Juan Arredondo for The New York Times See their entire story in photos → EDITORS' PICKS We publish many articles that touch on race. Here are a few you shouldn't miss. Joseph Rushmore for The New York Times Who Died in the Tulsa Race Massacre? After more than a century, researchers hope to finally identify the victims of one of the worst racial attacks in American history. By Audra D. S. Burch Eros Hoagland for The New York Times To Protect Giant Sequoias, They Lit a Fire After thousands of sequoias were destroyed by extreme wildfires, tribes are conducting cultural burns. By Jim Robbins and Eros Hoagland Sammy Oguejiofor The Small, Black-Owned Label Taking on the Big Brands in the Style Olympics Actively Black, the company that will be dressing Team Nigeria, has gold-medal-worthy ambitions. By Vanessa Friedman Sara Naomi Lewkowicz for The New York Times Hair Oil Gets a Slick Reboot Some South Asian women remember being embarrassed of their families' hair oiling traditions. Now, beauty brands, bloggers and celebrities are embracing them. By Alisha Haridasani Gupta Louise Johns for The New York Times A Rare White Buffalo Calf Arrives in Yellowstone With a Message The calf, named Wakan Gli, is said to fulfill a Lakota prophecy that brings hope, but its birth is also a sign that more must be done to protect the Earth, a Lakota spiritual leader says. By Aimee Ortiz via Black Spin Global The Tennis Podcast That Champions, and Hosts, Black Pros Black Spin Global found an audience with its cheeky coverage of the growing number of ranked Black tennis players. It also offered them a forum. By Stacy Y. China Adam Perez for The New York Times Along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Struggle to Make a Living Los Angeles lifted restrictions that had forced street vendors, mostly immigrants, on Hollywood Boulevard to dodge citations. Other challenges remain. By Kurtis Lee, Ana Facio-Krajcer and Adam Perez Invite your friends. Invite someone to subscribe to the Race/Related newsletter. Or email your thoughts and suggestions to racerelated@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Race/Related from The New York Times. To stop receiving Race/Related, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018