There exist three strikes against the little dark skin girl that sits next to you in class; strike one she’s a woman, strike two she’s of color, and strike three she’s a dreamer. I am the little girl that sat next to you in class, the little girl who couldn’t read or speak your tongue. The little girl you rubbed your Nike sneaker at while my toes bathed inside my sweaty Skechers. I am the little girl that you waved your hands at in an attempt to say “Hi” as if I were an alien. The girl you never truly noticed or said more than Hi to because our skin tones differ, the one you wouldn’t allow to play football because I am the opposite gender. I am that little girl whose mere presence made you uncomfortable and disturbed, the same little girl you looked at with disgust. Being an immigrant in the United States has shaped me into a strong, independent, and hardworking young woman. From an early age, I learned that if you work hard enough you can attain your wildest dreams and deepest desires. As I grew up, I often saw my single mother constantly struggling to work numerous jobs just to place food on the table for my sibling and me. I realized how difficult it was to truly survive in such a promising land, to the point where I found myself confused at the idea of leaving everything behind and starting over. I often wonder why we do it. Why leave behind your life and family for merely the possibility of the so-called American dream? Why start over when your future isn’t guaranteed? Questions that ponder my brain but never exited my mouth. I never asked my mother why we came to America nor did I need to even if I wanted to. Although no one spoke openly about it in the Dominican Republic, everyone knew the U.S. as a land of opportunity. I could never accomplish my deepest desires and wildest dream in the land that flows through my veins. In attempts to survive in the United States of American immigrant constantly battle against lingual, cultural, and racial barriers.
Communicating is not an easy task for an immigrant coming into the United States of America. It is often the greatest barrier between an immigrant and all that they have ever dreamed or hoped for. Most of my middle school years consisted of me sitting on a specific side of the classroom solving mathematical problems for each class. I remember not being able to partake in any class discussions and whenever I needed to communicate with my teacher our liaison was google translator. It was extremely frustrating not being able to understand when an individual attempted to speak to me. As Lauren Schwaar author of Difficulties Faced by Immigrants and Refugees states, “Language barriers cause huge difficulties and make simple interactions seem like daunting feats. Employment, transportation, legal responsibilities and receiving assistance in each of these areas are more difficult without a firm grasp of English” (Schwaar 1). Not being able to communicate with those around you when you arrive in a new country is extremely challenging. I recently visited the doctors’ office and there was an Ecuadorian woman at the doctor’s office with her crying child. She like many Hispanic parents was only fluent in Spanish, she was also illiterate, unable to write anything besides her and her sons’ name. Because of the language barrier, this woman was unable to receive adequate treatment for her sick baby. My heart was completely broken at the sight of a person unable to receive the proper care they deserve. I often find myself serving as a spokesperson for my mother constantly missing school to attend her and my brothers’ doctors’ appointments. In a way honorably epitomizing the underrepresented community I belong to because I too know what it feels like not understanding and being misunderstood. Although language is not the only barrier the average immigrant faces when coming to the United States.
Cultural barriers transcend each and every aspect of life for an immigrant in the United States of America. In the Dominican Republic, the family is the first priority. People that live in the Dominican Republic have a tremendous connection with their relatives. It doesn’t matter what generation you’re in if you see your second or third cousin, you still consider them your cousin. You don’t refer to them as, “we are somewhat related”, you call them your cousin even if they don’t have .000001% of the same blood as you. Families in the United States usually prioritize work rather than family or particularly tending to their children, therefore they are often minimally parented. Most children in the United States are self-raised and learn to be independent at a much younger age compared to the children in the Dominican Republic. When I lived in the Dominican Republic, there was a Dominican tradition that food would always be prepared. Thus, when I came home from school every day, lunch would already be set on the table. Among other things, my mom would do my laundry and fold my clothes for me. Yet when I moved to the United States finding food on the kitchen table would be a wild astonishment and doing my own laundry became second nature. I often found myself eating frozen meals and regularly using the microwave which was something I rarely did in the Dominican Republic. Although there are larger cultural differences that stand in the way of immigrants affiliating with the American culture. Such cultural differences include the way children speak to their parents, in the Dominican Republic a child looks up to their parent and respects them. While in the United States it is human nature to disrespect, belittle, and occasionally curse at your parents. Additionally, these new cultural norms make it extremely difficult to kindred with the American culture in such a way that immigrants find themselves having to appropriate to the American culture for the sake of fitting in.
Immigrants are constantly racially stereotyped and seen as burger flippers, housekeeper, gardeners or doorman. Immigrants are never expected to succeed, they are not expected to become doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. An immigrant’s greatest fight is the stereotype and the ideology bestowed upon them that where one comes from dictates where one will go. The entire purpose of moving to this country is for the betterment of self and proving that regardless of the situation one is placed in or comes from, one can make it. As the Annie E. Casey Foundation stated in research regarding immigrants’ success, “Eighty-five percent of foreign-born young adults are in school or working — slightly higher than the proportion of U.S.-born young adults who are doing so (84%)” (Casey 1). Moreover, reflecting that although the odds of success are against you as an immigrant you are capable of accomplishing everything you have ever dreamed of. It is a challenge because being an immigrant from a low-income family meant an opportunity to improve myself with set limitations. Such limitations included not owning flashy name brand products as the rest of my peers did, not being able to go to out with my friends because of the financial lack, not owning a computer to do homework, and most commonly not being able to attend school trips. Although I didn’t go to prom, travel the world or any other state then Jersey for that matter, I can proudly say that I am currently at a four-year University proving that all it takes is patience and dedication. I am a firm believer that no dream is too big and that anything one puts their mind to, they can certainly accomplish it and for that I thank America.
All things considered, although you prejudged me and belittled everything I ever believed in, I thank you because you provide immigrants like myself the ability to become something greater than those before me were. America is a melting pot where those who were nothing and had no ability to ever become something can make a difference. Although this country is not currently in favor of all those hard-working men and women who make what it is, it will always continue to be a place where people are willing to give everything up for, in the chase of the American Dream.