By
Erin Coulehan
El Paso is a city of stories, some whispered through generations, others buried beneath the weight of history. Too often, the Borderland is reduced to headlines and political debates, its rich past overshadowed by the narratives of those who do not call it home. But Richard Parker, a journalist and native of El Paso, seeks to change that. In his new book, The Crossing: El Paso, the Southwest, and America’s Forgotten Origin Story, he uncovers the deep and often overlooked history of this region, weaving together centuries of resilience, migration, and identity. His journey to write this book was fueled by personal grief, an insatiable curiosity, and an unshakable love for his hometown.
When news broke of the 2019 Walmart shooting, he was in El Paso.
The gravity of the event – the horror of seeing the community become a national headline for such a tragedy – was a turning point.
“I was so angry and hurt,” says Parker.
But the book isn’t just about tragedy. As he dug deeper, Parker realized The Crossing was about uncovering a history that even he, a native El Pasoan, hadn’t fully appreciated. The more he researched, the more he felt compelled to weave together the complex, centuries-old narrative of this borderland.
El Paso is often overlooked in grand historical narratives, but Parker’s book challenges that omission. “We’re not just one city in a city limit,” he explained. “It’s a whole binational region that extends south to Chihuahua, north to Albuquerque, and even into parts of New Mexico and Arizona.”
The Crossing is both an investigation and a rediscovery, telling the story of El Paso as the cornerstone of American and Mexican history. Spanning 15,000 years, Parker explores how the region shaped civilizations, witnessed conflicts, and played a crucial role in the formation of Texas and the broader Southwest.
From the Spanish colonial era to the Pueblo Revolt, from the rise of San Elizario as Texas’ oldest city to the Apache Wars – Parker uncovers histories often left out of textbooks. He also dives into the darker, hidden aspects of El Paso’s past, including the use of Zyklon gas in border sanitation baths – an eerie prelude to its later use in Nazi concentration camps. Through meticulous research and storytelling, Parker reframes El Paso not as a footnote in history but as a central force that shaped the region and the nation.
“It was overwhelming to try to pull this bunch of thickets into a nice landscape,” Parker says. The vastness of El Paso’s story meant that every avenue of research led to even more discoveries. “I had to keep my head on straight,” he joked. “Now I have three new book ideas that spun out of this one.”
But beyond the sheer volume of research, Parker navigated by balancing emotion and fact.
While The Crossing is rooted in historical exploration, it is also a testament to El Paso’s resilience in the face of adversity. The 2019 Walmart massacre was an act of hate meant to divide, yet the community’s response proved the opposite. El Pasoans came together, showing strength, unity, and compassion in the wake of violence.
Parker believes this resilience is what sets El Paso apart from other American cities. “We don’t take enough pride in where we’re from,” he says. “But the truth is, this community is an example of how different cultures can coexist and thrive.”
He hopes that by telling El Paso’s full story, The Crossing will challenge misconceptions and inspire people both inside and outside the region to recognize its significance.
At its core, The Crossing is a book about reclaiming history. It’s about reminding the world – and El Pasoans – that this region has always been foundational.
From the Apaches’ centuries-long resistance to colonial rule to the modern-day struggles of migration and identity, Parker’s research proves, the story of this city is far from over.
“I want people who are not from El Paso to know that their history really started here,” Parker said. “I want people who are from El Paso to take pride in their hometown.”
