During The Path Home Project presentation people who immigrated from countries like South Korea, China, and Honduras talked about their experiences when they or their parents came to America. They also spoke about the process of obtaining their green cards and citizenship paperwork. Two speakers, Sun Byun and May Chen, who are two to three decades apart faced the same inhumane treatment in the workplace despite their age difference. Another speaker, Sagraria Mendez, explained how she fought for her rights by joining the Union in order to get compensated what she deserved and send money back to her family in Honduras. As she spoke about her experiences, Donald Trump’s name came up and she was not the only one to mention him. At the end of the presentation the presenters were hopeful that new immigrants will be treated fairly in and out of the workplace.
Hearing everyones similar yet different stories made me realize that immigration and race are issues that are connected. The way people of color have been treated throughout the years is exactly the way immigrants were treated and continue to be treated. The darker skinned a person was, the more harmful they were treated and this still goes on today. For example, I am half white and half black. Because I am light skinned I have not been treated unfairly due to my race. However, so many other people have and I want to use this presentation to better understand those people who have had to work exceptionally hard to get accepted in America. Many of my darker skinned friends are still not feeling fully accepted because they are insulted for their skin color or shunned because of it. The presentation touched me so much that I am thinking of studying law and becoming an immigration lawyer.
Angel, thank you for sharing this wonderful post! It sounds like The Path Home Project launch was an amazing event, and while I was sorry to miss it, your post (and photo) gave me insight into what it was like to be there!
Your post suggests that labor was an important topic for all of the speakers.
I also really appreciate how you reflect here on how this event prompted your insights on the intersections of race and immigration to the United States. This is such an important axis of American identity and nation formation. If this is something you are interested in learning more about (in general, or with respect to specific groups), I can point you to scholarship and activism on this topic.
I’m also moved to hear that you felt so affected by the presentation and the event’s speakers! Immigration lawyers are really important in the struggle for immigrant rights, and I would be happy to talk with you more about your interest in this career path.