José Robinson moved to Detroit from Honduras with his adoptive family when he was 9 years old. His adoptive mother was a member of the Peace Corps and a native Detroiter. His adoptive father was part of the agricultural industry in Honduras.
For Robinson, Detroit was a different world where there was a new language to learn. He also experienced culture shock.
“The first time that I came here was the first time that I saw snow,” he recalled.
It would take time for him to reconnect with his Latino roots. In 2004, he attended Chadsey High School in Southwest Detroit, where he met Spanish speakers in the city.
“Essentially, I grew up in Black Detroit … Southwest Detroit was so new to me in high school, so I went years without really realizing, knowing, ‘Wait, people speak Spanish in Detroit?’ I had no idea.”
His time in Southwest Detroit expanded his awareness of Latino culture. He realized there was a lot more to learn about himself.
Robinson revisited Honduras eight years ago. There, he sought to gain perspective on his life’s trajectory, write a book and connect with relatives. During that time, he met the woman he would later marry. He also learned about the farming industry from his adoptive father.
Inspired by his time in Honduras, he founded COMSA Detroit, which ships and distributes ethically sourced Honduran organic coffee in the U.S.
This story is part of our Destination Detroit series, which shares the rich history of the people who have shaped Southeast Michigan.
Watch more stories at onedetroitpbs.org/destinationdetroit.