NOSOTROS LOS ESPAÑOLES
WE THE SPANISH PEOPLE
Nosotros los españoles – We the Spanish People
Nosotros los españoles - We the Spanish People is the new project from The Legacy. A heartfelt tribute to the passage of the Spaniards throughout the United States that begins with the release of a video and book in the National Library of Spain, a unique book that is inspired by traditional postcards. I invite you to take an unprecedented journey in time through the passages of the history of Spain in the current United States of America. An unusual journey, accompanied with brief messages of great visual impact, that will bring to light the unknown history of the Viceroyalty of New Spain in a third of the territory we know today as the United States of America.
In this book I try to give a brief but powerful idea of the arrival of the first Spaniards in those lands starting in the 16th century, and the contributions, efforts, and fundamental contribution of the Kingdom of Spain to the birth of the United States of America. A journey of more than 500 years, documented with data that should be the subject of study on both sides of the Atlantic. The Spanish legacy needs its rightful place in history and this work is an illustrative tool to embark on the path of knowledge.
WE THE PEOPLE
This is the most universal, beloved, and respected phrase in the U.S. It is part of the Preamble of the Constitution, a brief introductory statement of fundamental principles. Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers, declaring war against English tyranny, toiled to compose this historic text. And as I share with you in the book, #WeTheSpanish people also played a role on the making of this document. The preamble reads:
In this book I try to give a brief but powerful idea of the arrival of the first Spaniards in those lands starting in the 16th century, and the contributions, efforts, and fundamental contribution of the Kingdom of Spain to the birth of the United States of America. A journey of more than 500 years, documented with data that should be the subject of study on both sides of the Atlantic. The Spanish legacy needs its rightful place in history and this work is an illustrative tool to embark on the path of knowledge.:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
This We the People contains a large and fundamental number of contributions from the Spanish people. #NosotrosLosEspañoles,
#WeTheSpanishPeople are an indisputable part of the success of this declaration; before, during and after.
The Legacy Association is now in its seventh year. A little more than three years ago I began the planning of this book. Its origin is the eÑe Project, which in just four years has exceeded all expectations:
1. Our videos have reached more than 5 million people.
2. Over 5,000 copies of the poster have been distributed.
3. The traveling exhibition began in February 2022 in Rota, inaugurated by Ambassador Julissa Reynoso. Since then, we have visited more than twenty cities and have counted almost 400,000 visits, an unprecedented success in less than 2 years.
The book is a complete catalog of the exhibit with all its postcards and reflections on some of the data that have impacted me the most in this exhaustive research. I now have the will and the intention that it becomes a guide for all those who want to take it home, to their workplace, to their extended family’s schools. I have reviewed more than 7000 photographs to be able to select the ones chosen. I have read thousands of pages, delicately selecting each word of the book because each one counts and the power of them all has one mission: assist us with the three objectives for which we are going to need a lot of help:
A huge success touring the exposition in the United States.
2. To soon be able to inaugurate the Spanish Legacy Museum.
3. That by 2026 there is no need to explain or justify our immense legacy in the United States of America. The 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence should be the catharsis of change.
For the Exposition The Legacy, we have all the materials ready in Washington DC, the inauguration date is march 20th, after that we only await for a long list of places to display it.
We will have much to say about the Spanish Legacy Museum for a long time to come because we need it to become a reality in Madrid and in all the autonomous communities, and of course in the United States. Don’t miss the video We The Spanish people, about our virtual museum, which is the third part of the project.
To reach 2026 in shape we will need to reinforce our message with key words. It is a necessary goal, one of historical justice, and it requires unity and the commitment of all our institutions for an outreach without precedent. Those key words are:
Objective - Necessary - Justice - Unity - Commitment and outreach.
You cannot love what you do not know.
In the book We the Spanish People, I called the first chapter The Battle of Perceptions. It is an argument for strength against which we must fight. The first paragraph reads as follows:
Inaction is a form of defeat. Treacherous, slow, agonizing, and in most occasions absent of remorse or moral burden because its devastating consequences take decades and sometimes extend for hundreds of years. This is the great defeat of the history of Spain and the inconceivable victory of the infamous Black Legend.
There are four words that we want to go viral with this project, so that when they are said out loud everyone will want to be part of them:
We the Spanish People
#WeTheSpanishPeople need to reclaim our history with a just and documented account. We need to change the paradigm of the infamous black legend and focus all our efforts on our deeds, exploits and victories.
#WeTheSpanishPeople need to become aware of how important it is to act so that future generations do not have to deal with lies, rumors, falsehoods and centuries-old and undeserved insults to those who came before us.
#WeTheSpanishPeople must join forces with the state institutions, schools and universities. We must enamor everyday citizens, and those of the world with the history that we have not been told.
#WeTheSpanishPeople must learn to defend what is ours.
We have hardly three years until July 2026. Three years ahead of us full of challenges and enthusiasm to make a difference in this just, truthful and documented account.
Thank you for following us and for supporting us, do not stop doing it. Every little bit counts.
With my sincere thanks on behalf of all of us who are proudly working, collaborating and supporting The Legacy Association.
Eva Garcia
President and Founder
Author of the book: El Legado Español
The Spanish Legacy - We the Spanish People (1513 - 1821)