she got in touch with rachel robinson and said, let's meet on the merritt parkway. my mother took her to various real estate agents. and said, we would like to see that piece of property on cascade avenue. with whatever misgivings or embarrassment, the real estate agents took them over to see the property. little by little, they bought the piece of property. to spirit that my mother had have all of these civil rights meetings and protests on our lawn. >> my mother did someone -- did something extremely courageous for someone at that time in puerto rico. she was devoted to my father. she was just about 20, which was unheard of. she did something remarkably and tok a ship to new york city see if she could find some kind of other life. when she made enough money and had earned just about enough english, she took the ship back to puerto rico. she had to go back for christmas. her idea was to bring me back to the united states for the better life that she was after. >> myom lets me with a smile. my dad blessed me with the work ethic. i combined the two and here i am toda