Video series: What does citizenship mean to you?

The United States, it is often said, is a nation of immigrants. Is it also a nation of citizens?

For its 21st Century Citizen series, The Times editorial board has explored the meaning of citizenship, delving into such issues as the birthright citizenship debate and why U.S. citizenship matters. On the latter topic, the board argues that citizenship is more than a piece of paper; it is rather “a source of empowerment and an investment in good government.”

We decided to put that core question — What does it mean to be a citizen? — to a range of Southern Californians. Here is what they had to say.

Damola Akinola

Damola Akinola

Grace Yoo

Grace Yoo

Hiroshi Motomura

Hiroshi Motomura

James Fugate

James Fugate

Enrique Barboza

Enrique Barboza

Dasha Slepenkina

Dasha Slepenkina

Jeffrey Briggs

Jeffrey Briggs

Adel Syed

Adel Syed

Maria Cornejo

Maria Cornejo

Judy Baca

Judy Baca

Brooke Brewer

Brooke Brewer

Tom Hayden<

Tom Hayden

Credits: Produced by Scott Martelle and Alexandra Le Tellier. Videos by Myung J. Chun and Don Kelsen. Web production by Armand Emamdjomeh.