Is the American dream really a dream for everyone?
Racism is a big deal here; Life's tough when there are so many people that don't want you to be successful.
According to ProCon.org immigration is top ten in controversial topics, bustle.com tells about common stereotypes with immigration among those; Mexicans take all the jobs, don’t pay taxes, and are criminal. Wanting to find the truth, I decided to interview a good friend whose family has immigrated from Mexico; he has asked in trade for honest answers that I not share his name, but I will refer to him as my friend. In the interview I wanted to target and focus on the family and how it is affected; after all, that is why most people immigrate.
Why would someone abandon their families, friends, and life? For most immigrants, it is pretty clear; for their immediate family, the ones that depend on them. People come here in search of the American Dream, freedom, equality, and jobs. But at times it’s more of an American Nightmare, restraint, segregation, and idleness.
Finally in contact with one of my best friends – who is a cool and down to earth kind of guy – was surprisingly serious in this interview and had shockingly direct answers.
To start off the interview I asked: why did your family immigrate? He like so many others mentioned that they left the land of their forefathers to come to the U.S. in search of this American dream, the same one that Martin Luther King Jr. had. And for the most part, the dream really is a dream. Thanks to his parent's sacrifice they are all getting a college education, have jobs, and most importantly are out of the dangers of gangs and cartels that have overtaken a few parts of Mexico.
Like from any dream you have to wake up and face reality sometimes. When asked in what ways has immigration been a struggle for your family he said “Racism is a big deal here. A lot of people don't want immigrants to come here so they target us. We're put at a disadvantage from the very beginning. Life's tough when there are so many people that don't want you to be successful.” These strong words were an awakening for me. Why are there these bad views towards immigrants? Aren’t we all immigrants? While watching a television show I heard someone say that America was built upon racial segregation and continues in the same path.
At the end of the day, he is really glad that his parents made this sacrifice to immigrate and even though there are rough patches, it brings his family closer together. His extended families that to this day live in Mexico also support their decision saying “They didn't want their future grandchildren to join the cartels and get involved in the wrong things”. They are just glad that they are living the American dream.
Immigration obviously is not an easy experience. Something that was not discussed in the interview but something I have always admired from him is the way that he handles racism, rejection, and opposition. Whenever comforted by these hard situations his answer was rarely anger, instead, he would ignore it saying if they don’t want to be in my life I don’t want them in my life. He would also lean on his family when times got hard. He would truly break any of the stereotypes that immigrants often have. He just wants to try and be “Legendary” for his family and friends.
Racism is a big deal here; Life's tough when there are so many people that don't want you to be successful.
According to ProCon.org immigration is top ten in controversial topics, bustle.com tells about common stereotypes with immigration among those; Mexicans take all the jobs, don’t pay taxes, and are criminal. Wanting to find the truth, I decided to interview a good friend whose family has immigrated from Mexico; he has asked in trade for honest answers that I not share his name, but I will refer to him as my friend. In the interview I wanted to target and focus on the family and how it is affected; after all, that is why most people immigrate.
Why would someone abandon their families, friends, and life? For most immigrants, it is pretty clear; for their immediate family, the ones that depend on them. People come here in search of the American Dream, freedom, equality, and jobs. But at times it’s more of an American Nightmare, restraint, segregation, and idleness.
Finally in contact with one of my best friends – who is a cool and down to earth kind of guy – was surprisingly serious in this interview and had shockingly direct answers.
To start off the interview I asked: why did your family immigrate? He like so many others mentioned that they left the land of their forefathers to come to the U.S. in search of this American dream, the same one that Martin Luther King Jr. had. And for the most part, the dream really is a dream. Thanks to his parent's sacrifice they are all getting a college education, have jobs, and most importantly are out of the dangers of gangs and cartels that have overtaken a few parts of Mexico.
Like from any dream you have to wake up and face reality sometimes. When asked in what ways has immigration been a struggle for your family he said “Racism is a big deal here. A lot of people don't want immigrants to come here so they target us. We're put at a disadvantage from the very beginning. Life's tough when there are so many people that don't want you to be successful.” These strong words were an awakening for me. Why are there these bad views towards immigrants? Aren’t we all immigrants? While watching a television show I heard someone say that America was built upon racial segregation and continues in the same path.
At the end of the day, he is really glad that his parents made this sacrifice to immigrate and even though there are rough patches, it brings his family closer together. His extended families that to this day live in Mexico also support their decision saying “They didn't want their future grandchildren to join the cartels and get involved in the wrong things”. They are just glad that they are living the American dream.
Immigration obviously is not an easy experience. Something that was not discussed in the interview but something I have always admired from him is the way that he handles racism, rejection, and opposition. Whenever comforted by these hard situations his answer was rarely anger, instead, he would ignore it saying if they don’t want to be in my life I don’t want them in my life. He would also lean on his family when times got hard. He would truly break any of the stereotypes that immigrants often have. He just wants to try and be “Legendary” for his family and friends.
Works Cited
Equality. N.d. Local.gov, N/A.
Friend. Immigration Preston Gardner. 2 November 2016.
Immigration Sign. 12 Dec. 2006. Crisismagazine.com, Nebraska
ProCon.org. 2016. Home Page. 2 November 2016.
MLK. 15 July 2001. The Internet, Washington DC.
YURCABA, JOSEPHINE B. Bustle. 22 July 2015. Article. 2 November 2016.
Two Flags Two Nations [Photograph]. (2016, November 11). Travel Page, Rufus, Playa Del Carmen.
Equality. N.d. Local.gov, N/A.
Friend. Immigration Preston Gardner. 2 November 2016.
Immigration Sign. 12 Dec. 2006. Crisismagazine.com, Nebraska
ProCon.org. 2016. Home Page. 2 November 2016.
MLK. 15 July 2001. The Internet, Washington DC.
YURCABA, JOSEPHINE B. Bustle. 22 July 2015. Article. 2 November 2016.
Two Flags Two Nations [Photograph]. (2016, November 11). Travel Page, Rufus, Playa Del Carmen.