I am an immigrant. I migrated to the U.S. from the Philippines. Although it wasn't always the case, today I am learning to peel the shame I used to feel about being an immigrant. Some cringe at the word "immigrant"; some take and use it as an insult. Many believe that it's an F-word; a word that's a curse, a taboo, something dirty, a word people aren't suppose to use, it's thrown around like a weapon of hate.

The history of the word, from my understanding, is that it was used to place an identifier on a group that was seen as an 'other.' It has been posed to me that perhaps the word "immigrant" should not be used in the first place. But I disagree; eradicating the word isn't a protest of disregard of the power of the ruling class. but rather it's an admittance of their power.

Instead of using "immigrant" as an F-word, I'm suggesting that people remember that language is ours; We determine its meaning and its development, not the other way around. I am an immigrant; I migrated from one place to another. There is nothing wrong with that.

(My particular interest is in the undocumented immigrant experience, particularly undocumented immigrant youth. This blog seeks to journey into learning about the lives of immigrants, documented and undocumented alike, and the politics surrounding the subject.)

"google that!"

Immigrant Rights are Human Rights; If a group of people can be oppressed, who decides who's next?

Inform yourself and others, go to google.com and youtube.com and check out things like:

I.C.E. Detention Center / Hutto Dention Center / DREAM Act


Thursday, June 25, 2009

imagine


There are currently no immigration laws that take into consideration
undocumented youths who did not have a choice in regards to being
brought into the U.S. I am referring to youths under the age of 18,
who have lived their lives in the U.S., but if detected can be sent
back to their country of origin (and some cases be blacklisted from
the U.S. for a period of time). As a gateway city, New York City has a
large population of undocumented youth that attend public school. But
after high school obtaining legitimate work is impossible, without
further breaking the law. There is currently a bill that was proposed
in 2001 that is traveling through the workings of the Senate. It's
called the DREAM Act and it proposes that undocumented youths be
granted amnesty, on the condition that they attend at least a two-year
college, or enlist in the armed forces. While advocates fight for this
bill to be past, there is pool of talent that the U.S. is not
utilizing. In fact, the lack of attention on this pool of talent is
perpetuating the marginalization of certain communities.

Imagine being in high school and being good at a subject, or an art,
or a sport. And everyone tells you you're gonna do great things...that
you should do great things. Or imagine being in high school and your
teachers asking you to try harder, telling you that if you set your
mind to something you can be better...but for an undocumented young
person that's not the case. they can't do great things or be better,
at least their access to achieving these goals are greatly limited.
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