01/01/2026
Love Your Immigrant Neighbors/34% Off Most Everything because No Immigrants, No Spice.
For a year now Republicans have made it official government policy to harass, and bully, and villainize the essential workers our economy needs most. And the problem isn’t just the stagnation, inflation, and falling dollar that has come from the Republicans' attack on immigrants, it’s that bullying immigrants is wrong and that it’s fundamentally un-American.
America is the Immigration Nation. There’s a long list of reasons why America was able to grow from just another colony to the leader among nations, but any list that doesn’t place “Robust Immigration” at the top of the list isn’t being honest.
Every country has its good and bad parts, but we have so many more good parts because immigrants brought with them the best part of every culture on the planet. As a spice business we live this every day. Everything we grind, blend, and package started with being something an immigrant didn’t want to live without, and is still here because the rest of us now don’t want to live without it either.
Our greatest period of immigration was when we didn’t discriminate by skin tone or which side of Europe you were born on. Then a century ago, in a time much like now, when the Klan and racism had seized control, racist laws were passed, proclaiming who could and who couldn’t be an American. But America never respected those laws because they weren’t American.
Plus we like being #1, and we like winning, and that simply doesn’t happen without robust immigration. They do indeed get the job done. Their kids, too. And their grandkids start businesses like Penzeys that employ a lot of people and pay a good amount of taxes which fund an ever greater America. Immigration lifts all boats (benefits the entire economy).
So yes, we had racist laws, we ignored them, our economy continued to thrive. But now Republicans are playing the racist card again and need a scapegoat for the damage they are doing to America’s standing in the world.
Republicans want you to believe it’s the workers cleaning our hotel rooms, cooking the meals in our restaurants, and those tending to our elderly that are the problem. Spoiler Alert: Immigrants are not the problem.
So 2026, the Official Year of the American Immigrant has now been proclaimed.
In this year of America’s 250th Anniversary and the 11.3.26 Election that will decide the fate of American democracy and democracy worldwide, it's time for us all to come together and speak out in support of the immigrants who are our nation's lifeblood.
And yes, this means those immigrants who Republicans want to label as “illegal,” too.
No person is illegal, but the laws that prevent someone from becoming an American based on skin color or country of origin certainly are unconstitutional. Sadly the majority of our Supreme Court is unconstitutional as well, which leaves this one up to We the People.
And as much as we are the Immigration Nation there’s always been a bit of hazing that has gone with that. But anyone who has been here for a decade or more, working, staying on the good side of the law, and paying taxes has already passed a much more difficult audition than anyone’s “white” ancestors had to face.
It’s simple. We need them. They are doing us and our economy a service by being here. They’ve earned their place.
So 2026: Year of the American Immigrant!
This year it’s not enough to silently support immigrants, it’s time to speak out.
Speak out in support of the decency of America’s immigrant communities.
Speak out in thanks for all immigrants do to support our economy and keep America competitive in the world.
And speak out against the cruelty and bullying Republicans are directing at these good and decent people America is so in need of.
It doesn’t take much of an investigation to see that those the Republicans have placed in charge of their attack on immigrants are not mentally healthy individuals. Have empathy for them, but no amount of hurt they’ve faced in their lives is a justification for the depraved inhumanity they are right now inflicting on the lives of America’s immigrants.
What’s right is right, and the Republican treatment of our vulnerable immigrants simply isn’t right. It’s 2026. It’s time to speak out.
And enjoy tasty food. No Immigrants, No Spice. But if you are supportive, we have the spice. And a good message travels far, but a good message tied to a good deal knows no limits.
So come visit one of our stores or see us online at penzeys.com where, through Sunday 1.4.26, we are starting out the year with 34% of everything other than Vanilla, Saffron, and Gift Cards. In our stores just mention this post. Online use the code SPICE at checkout.
To make a splash we are also offering half off our Gift Boxes. Here’s your chance at tasty Choose Love boxes and more at Half Off! Don’t miss out.
You can find our gift boxes here: https://www.penzeys.com/shop/gift-boxes/?categoryId=185
Plus to make it easier for everyone to participate in our kickoff to the Year of the American Immigrant we’ve reduced our usual $49 spending minimum for free shipping to just $35. Alaska and Hawaii, too.
And I put this out there and you never take me up on it, but how we get to be us, how we get to spread messages like this one and make an actual impact is that we’ve put together a community of over a million cooks. Cooks who care about others, cooks who know caring is the way we will get through this year and come out with our democracy and our decency intact.
Our community of cooks who care is held together more than anything by our email list. It is in our celebration of caring and compassion that our email list keeps hope alive. It’s in our email list where we see, as people who care, we are not alone, and that together we can make a difference. Plus we make serving tasty food so easy and often close to free.
Please sign up for our email list. Together we are something so much more. This year matters. This year we need you as part of us. Make us better. Sign up. Thanks!
Penzeys email list: https://www.penzeys.com/sign-up-for-email/
And 2026: Year of the American Immigrant!
Spread the word.
Thanks for caring. Your empathy is the way forward. You matter more than you imagine.
Thanks for being you!
Bill
bill@penzeys.com
