Tom Flores was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past week. He is the first Hispanic quarterback in pro football and the first Hispanic head coach of an NFL franchise. His election to the Hall of Fame was celebrated by Latino organizations such as LULAC and the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. While Flores, whose father immigrated to the U.S. as part of the Bracero guest worker program, advocated for Latino immigrants later in his life, was not known for being a vocal proponent of Latino causes when he was at the peak of his fame. For this reason, I personally know a few Latinos who are not celebrating Tom Flores’ history-making recognition.
How do I feel about Latinos who only show up when it’s convenient or when there is something personal to gain? Well, I don’t know Tom Flores, but this is a scenario I have thought about more than a few times. I remember during the last recession, the only real estate agents who were surviving were the ones who had foreclosure listing accounts (REO). These listing accounts came from federal agencies and major financial institutions. They were very difficult to get and usually went to a select group of agents who had long-standing relationships with these institutions, and even though most of the foreclosures were occurring in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, very few agents of color had these relationships. NAHREP leaders met with FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and every major bank and servicer in America arguing that Latino agents needed to have their fair share of listing and other business opportunities. It was a tough battle and we got a lot of doors slammed in our face. I could write a book about the humiliation and abject racism I encountered during that time. Without question, NAHREP was the reason many Latino agents survived during that time, and a few became millionaires because of the work we did. Between 2008-2012, NAHREP brought dozens of asset managers and loan servicers to our events, and I personally saw hundreds of Latino agents who had never attended a NAHREP event before the housing crisis put on a NAHREP pin and charge to the front of the line.
I decided then, and still believe today, I would welcome any Latino who wanted back into the family regardless of their motive. It is hard enough getting our people under one tent, I don’t have the time or the inclination to speculate why. My hope, of course, is that once they are under the tent, the “Johnny-come-lately” Latinos will stay there, and give back to our Latino community from that point forward – even though I know this won’t always be the case. There are hundreds of Latino real estate agents who never came back to NAHREP once there weren’t any more REO listings to snag, but there have also been many others who have remained connected including some who became some of our best and most ardent members.
We all know who among us are real and who are the pretenders, and make no mistake, I don’t think all Latinos deserve the same things when there are actual opportunities being passed around. However, I also think loyalty tests won’t help us in the long run. We will lose a lot of good people if we go down that path. Most of us eventually figure out who we are. Some of us just take a little longer. I’m willing to give any Latino who wants back onto the reservation the benefit of the doubt…at least until they prove me wrong.
In this episode, I talk about why progress rarely comes from perfect ideas or moral certainty—and why waiting for purity often keeps us stuck. Idealism can feel virtuous, but history shows that real change happens when people are willing to act, accept imperfection, and move forward anyway. For our community, that means choosing momentum over stagnation, results over symbolism, and responsibility over comfort. If we’re serious about building power, dignity, and lasting progress, this is a conversation we need to have—honestly and without illusions.
In this episode, I talk about something we’re almost never encouraged to say out loud: wealth is power—literally. Not likes, not outrage, not visibility. I break down why real influence comes from ownership and leverage, not consumption; why income feeds families but equity builds dynasties; and why a wealthy Latino with a clear purpose shouldn’t be seen as a problem, but as proof of what’s possible. If you’ve ever felt uneasy talking about money or ambition, I’d love for you to watch this one and think about what “owning more” could look like for you and our community.
For a long time, Latinos in America were told a comforting story: work hard, be loyal, and eventually the power would follow. In this episode, I talk about why that story was never completely true—and why visibility, outrage, and good intentions still don’t translate into real power. I lay out what every successful group in this country eventually figured out about leverage, capital, and building our own institutions, and why 2026 has to be the year we stop waiting for permission and start playing a different game. If you’re ready to think beyond parties, elections, and slogans, this is where that conversation begins.