Castro's White House bid may be coming to an end -- but his story's not over

Just as Castro wasn't afraid to recite the names of African Americans and Latinos killed by police, take up the cause of the voiceless and downtrodden, and lead the discussion on homelessness, race and poverty -- the kinds of gritty topics that politicians don't like talking about.

Just as Castro wasn't afraid to scold former Rep. Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke for not doing his homework, poke at former Vice President Joe Biden for appearing foggy, and tell a NAACP audience -- in an apparent dig at South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg -- that Democrats shouldn't nominate someone who "can't appeal" to African Americans and Latinos.

Meanwhile, the media -- which is predominantly white -- have chosen their final four: Biden, Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

For all the hubbub about the Democrats having the most diverse field of candidates in history, the party's primary leaderboard is as white as a winter's day in Des Moines or Manchester.

This fact did not escape Castro.

"If we're not going to fight for everybody having a place at the table, why the hell are we Democrats in the first place?" he told Rolling Stone magazine in explaining his proposal to shuffle the deck of primary states.

That can be read two different ways. Either Castro is asking why "we" Democrats don't fight for equal opportunity, or why "we" people of color still vote Democratic. Both are good questions.

As someone who has known Castro for more than 15 years, it's not easy for me to watch my friend approach the end of his quest, even as supporters beg him to stay in the race.

In politics, as in life, you don't always come out on top. Sometimes you lose. But that doesn't mean that, one day, people won't look back on you as a winner because of what you did and the dignity with which you did it.

Well played, Amigo. You may not make it to the White House this time. But, against long odds and a stacked deck, you made us proud.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, "Navarrette Nation," is available through every podcast app.