An Unlikely Journey
Waking Up from My American Dream
by Julian Castro


(Click for Amazon book review)

BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

This is a joint biography of Julián Castro and Joaquin Castro, written by Julián. They're identical twins, and both in politics; hence much of their story is too intertwined to separate out. Julián presents his biographical background in this book in preparation for the 2020 presidential race (published in 2018). But mostly, it's just the twins' life story -- not a lot of policy.

The twins skipped one grade in elementary school; they then both went to Stanford University; and took a year off before both going to Harvard Law School. They both then went into politics: Julián got elected mayor of San Antonio, and then served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in President Obama's Cabinet. Joaquin got elected to the Texas State House and then to the United States Congress from the San Antonio area, where he still serves.

Julián and Joaquin come from a Mexican immigrant background. Their mother was a political activist in the San Antonio area too. They were raised in a politically-aware environment, but Julián also describes in this book his personal political awakening.

So what does this book say about Julián's presidential prospects? Well, he doesn't really address that -- he simply lets his personal biography speak for itself. Julián was the keynote speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention -- you might recall that Barack Obama's keynote speech in 2004 catapulted him to national prominence for the 2008 election. Julián was also "short-listed" for Hillary Clinton's vice presidency in 2016. Julián isn't doing so well in the early polling for the presidential primary -- he's below the top tier in the pack of 20 candidates right now -- but that could change once the debates begin. If not, Julián Castro is a frontrunner for both the Vice Presidency in 2020 and the Cabinet in 2021.

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, jesse@OnTheIssues.org, April 2019

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Civil Rights     Barack Obama: On 50th anniversary of Civil Rights Act: still need to fight.     Julian Castro: Chicano; Jewish; gay: common thread is marginalization.

Education     Joaquin Castro: Attended Catholic school and public elementary school.     Joaquin Castro: Graduated high school early to attend Stanford & Harvard Law.     Julian Castro: Attended Catholic school and public elementary school.     Julian Castro: Our most chronic problem is inequity in education.     Julian Castro: Graduated high school early to attend Stanford & Harvard Law.

Environment     Julian Castro: Opposed golf course development to protect city's aquifer.

Government Reform     Joaquin Castro: 1995: Studied overcoming minority voter disenfranchisement.     Julian Castro: 1995: Studied overcoming minority voter disenfranchisement.

Principles & Values     Joaquin Castro: 1977: As kids, engaged in San Antonio city politics.     Joaquin Castro: At Stanford, discovered about inequity in education.     Julian Castro: Jo & Ju.

Technology     Joaquin Castro: E-PALS: Set up email between Harvard students & Texas kids.     Julian Castro: E-PALS: Set up email between Harvard students & Texas kids.     Julian Castro: City Council 2000: pursue smart growth, knowledge economy.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Barack Obama Democratic President (elected 2008) Joaquin Castro Democrat U.S. Rep Texas-20 Julian Castro Texas Mayor of San Antonio; HUD Secretary