Celebrating heritage, race, ethnicity and nationality in a specific month has become a form of representation towards a specific group. Were into the sixth month of 2016 and June is officially Immigrant Heritage Month. This month is every important to many of us since our ancestors come from different corners of the globe.
The #IAmAnImmigrant campaign has started this representation month in order to show the diversity in our country and how it matters. “We all have our piece in the American story, whether as a new immigrant, native to this land, a descendent of slavery or those who come to our nation seeking a better life.” Various immigrant celebrities and immigrant allies are coming forward with this campaign in order to triumph against xenophobia.
iamanimmigrant.com
As an American, I not only identify as pro-immigrant but as well as an immigrant myself.
“But how are you an American and an Immigrant at the same time? It doesn’t work like that” you must ask. But indeed, it does.
If you look at the big picture, we’re all immigrants, unless you’re Native American. Native Americans are NOT immigrants to their own land and we all should know that. When you think about immigration don’t just think about undocumented people and the U.S.- Mexico border. Think about hundreds of years ago. Think about the mayflower, think about slaves being brought to the U.S. from different countries, think about the potato blight that force many Irish people to migrate to the U.S., and think about the “discovery” of America….that was immigration. But we all know America wasn’t discovered, so we don’t have to discuss that.
But…now the times have changed and immigration is looked at differently. Immigrants are being seen as a threat, as dirty people, as criminals that are running from their crimes but unless you’re first or second generation immigrant, you really don’t know the struggle of immigrants. Immigrants don’t just come from Mexico or from Latin America, we come from all over the globe. You see immigrants on television every single time, you read about immigrants, you share neighborhoods with immigrants, you’re friends with immigrants, the vegetables and fruits you eat are being pick from the soil by immigrant hands. Sorry to burst your bubble but unless you’re Native American, your ancestors are immigrants and because of them you don’t have the power to say that other immigrants don’t belong here. If it wasn’t for your immigrant ancestors, you wouldn’t even have a foot in this land. You need to think about the amount of contribution that immigrants have done in this country. Immigrants, slaves and Native Americans built this country but not for you to come here and dehumanize them.
When you think about immigration, you automatically think about the modern days; you think about undocumented people. Next time you think about immigration and imagine a group of undocumented Mexicans, I want you to think about Christopher Columbus and how he arrived to the New World (U.S.) as an undocumented immigrant. Think about Donald Trump’s grandfather, a German immigrant and Melania Trump, a Sevnica immigrant. Ted Cruz’s father, a Cuban immigrant, Bernie Sanders’ father, a Polish immigrant and President Obama’s father, a Kenyan immigrant and think about my own father, a Mexican immigrant that picked those crops your family had for dinner 16 years ago and the ice they bought at their local 7/11 was delivered by him at 4 a.m.
“Every time we get to say out loud that we are immigrants, I think it’s important that we embrace that opportunity.” says Wilmer Valderrama to People’s Magazine.
You should be proud of your immigrant roots and show them off whenever you can. Break the stigma the word “immigrant” has. It shouldn’t be an embarrassment to call yourself an immigrant or an immigrant ally. Embrace your roots because they matter and I’m sure your immigrant ancestors/relatives would be proud of you. Don’t be ashamed to ask what your background is. Instead, ask and inform yourself the most you can and bring back your roots and embrace them.
As first generation Mexican-American, I can tell you what it’s like to be an immigrant; because I am one. Born in Mexico in 1999 and raised in the U.S. since 2002, I win the title of an American and so can anyone else. My name is Andrea, I’m a 16 year old Mexican-American and my part in the American story started since I won the title “immigrant” in 2002. I’ll continue to call myself an immigrant and proudly embrace it but I’ll keep my American title as well.
Now I ask you: What’s your part in the American story?
Happy Immigrant Heritage Month!
