What Kind of American Are YOU?
The United States of America is considered the land of freedom and the land of refugees and immigration. We are know for our diversity, and diversity brings in different type of people into the country. But we never know how to properly treat them!
The long history of immigration and refugees creates many different diaspora community. The Second, third generation and so on are the Diaspora. Those who hold dear to the culture of another country that was passed down to them by their parents even though they had never visited the place. These are the diaspora community that lives within the borders of the United States of America and they would gained citizenship to this country. But their skin color might not be white and they don’t do white people’s things. While some Americans don’t consider them to be an American at all because they cannot speak the language or they eat weird food or wear different clothes. No matter what other people think of them, they are lawfully an American citizen. Some are born here, some are not but later became a citizen. No matter the situation, they are American. Is it that hard to believe? Do we have to label them differently? Do you have to label me differently?
Apparently according to FBI director, James Comey, it seems that labeling groups of people as “Terrorist Diaspora” doesn’t seem to be a difficult task. Comey warns citizen of incoming terrorist diaspora because the government is accepting refugees from Syria, those who are fleeing the Syria civil wars. His actions called for fear, that will be inflicted to many diaspora community. By simply implying that diaspora might be a terrorist, he is inflicting hate onto the many diaspora community with the possible reason of them being involved with the terrorist. This directly inflict hate toward the brown community, the muslim, and anyone who seems to belong to that community. Fear are increasing everyday to the brown community since the 9/11 attack on the twin towers, and when an FBI official came out to the public making such comment is only making the situation worse.
Many diaspora communities are also the hyphenated American. The use of hyphenate when describing your race is sometimes expected of you. Because hyphenated American are American who does not fit the traditional standard of an American. Some might find the need to introduced themselves as a hyphenated American because they do not want to associate with certain group or they want show pride in their home country. The Huffington Post article on Governor Bobby Jindal, describe the reason why there’s nothing wrong with being a hyphenated American. In fact, you should be proud to be one. Being proud of one’s origin is nothing to ashamed of, and you should never feel the need to throw away your origin either.
Then we have Native American, who belongs to this land but is now considered to be a diaspora community because they have experienced racial discrimination in their own land. The unjust experienced that the Native has received is heartbreaking and it get worse each day. Especially, the recent news of Dakota Access Pipeline where Native American are protesting to protect their water. Even though it was a peaceful protest, the police force have been brutally treating the protestors.
That is the problem that we have to deal when we live in a very divided nation. People of different community deals with discrimination, denied access to freedom, and equality in many areas. Throughout the history of the United States of America, racial discrimination started since the country is founded by our founding father. In other words, they stole the land from Native American and discriminate against them and chases them out of their own land. Many other races that has settled in the United States would experience discrimination at one point or another in their life-time. That goes for all any races that is not considered “white”.
The next question would be, What is an american? It doesn’t matter what it says on your legal document, if you are not “white” you are not considered a full american. But can get accused of “being white”. America once have the idea of a melting pot where immigrant from different country would mix with american culture and it’s just one big melting pot. But it’s a myth because the melting pot imply that immigrants must accept the european culture and be one with the rest of the nation. However, the racial discrimination shows that america was never united and will never be a melting pot.
Through the progression of history, we see that discrimination are happening less and less, and more people of color gained more rights. But with our new president, things are about to turn back in time. Times when racial discrimination are at an all time high. The Divided States of America is where diaspora community experienced hated. So what kind of american are you? Are you the type to stand and watch the hatred or the one to stand by those who needs your help (the diaspora)?
