A Long and Grueling Road

By Anonymous / Summer 2021

Once when I was in high school, I went to an art exhibit where all the artists were of Latin American descent. One artist in particular had a piece that stood out to me: it was a wall of shoes. There were big shoes, small shoes, ratty shoes, Hello Kitty shoes, but each shoe represented an immigrant that had walked across the border to America. Each shoe represented someone in search of a better life.

My own uncle and his family could have worn those shoes. While both my grandparents were immigrants as well, my grandma from El Salvador and my grandpa from Mexico, they were lucky to have someone to sponsor them here in America. My Tio Jesus, however, was born in Mexico and originally came to America as an undocumented immigrant, an “illegal” immigrant. His is a story of perseverance and determination, a story of someone simply seeking a better life and the “American dream.” Coming to America was not an easy task for him. He walked through the mountains to cross the border with his wife and child, and at points when they were tired, he carried them both. When he arrived, he had to work three jobs to support his family with his employers often taking advantage of him, knowing that he didn’t have his papers. His journey to America was long and grueling, yet he did not rest once he arrived. That statement stands for most immigrants who come here. Nevertheless, many people would still believe they don’t deserve to be here despite all their struggles.

We have seen a lot of harmful rhetoric surrounding immigrants in America, especially during Trump’s presidency and, most recently, with Asian Americans during the COVID crisis. Regarding immigrants from Central and South America, there are many harmful stereotypes painting them as rapists, thieves, murderers, and criminals. There exists this belief that immigrants are taking advantage of the system, that they are stealing jobs from hard working Americans, that this land isn’t theirs and they should go back to where they came from, and that they’re all uneducated, especially if they don’t speak English well. All these damaging messages allow typically white Americans to hold themselves in more superior positions, continuing these false messages of immigrant inferiority.

Looking back at history shows us how this came to be. Early on in American history, the idea that this land belonged to the white colonizers began to emerge. Along with it came concepts such as manifest destiny, the white man’s burden, and nativism. While these all played a role in developing feelings of white superiority, nativism most notably gives historical context for the negative feelings towards immigrants, white and non-white alike. Nativism is the ideology that “the US belongs to native born Americans (white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, or those immigrants who have worked their way into whiteness)” (Twohig, slide 64). This ideology gave rise to feelings that this elite group of white people were more deserving, after all, this land and this country was theirs. These feelings of white superiority were then used to justify a number of tragic actions taken against minority groups in America. Most notably, it was used to justify the stealing of land from the natives and the institution of slavery. Native people were portrayed to be savages and animalistic, almost inhuman (Takaki 35). Taking their land and killing them wasn’t seen as a bad thing because they weren’t humans to begin with. In fact, it was a good thing because it allowed for the further development of a civilized society.

Meanwhile, Black people were said to be intellectually and mentally inferior. Scientific data that showed a number of skulls belonging to white people were larger than the skulls of black people was used as evidence to support this illogical belief (Takaki 85). Slavery was actually helping them because they weren’t capable of taking care of themselves. These negative stereotypes that were developed against non-white groups were so prevalent that they continue to exist today. Additional negative stereotypes emerge in order to continue to portray this elite group of white people as the superior group in society. They work to convince others that these non-white groups are more inhuman and therefore less deserving of the rights otherwise afforded to “true Americans,” aka white Americans.

An examination of labor history in America shows how false these beliefs are. Immigrants in the past faced unsafe and overall terrible working conditions much like immigrants continue to face. People in the workforce today expect basic needs to be met in the form of an 8-hour workday, minimum wage, and unemployment insurance. However, these were all conditions that workers had to fight for in the past and required laws that immigrants played an important role in the development of. It took tragedy back then in order to call attention to the dreadful working conditions faced by immigrants. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 resulted in the death of over a hundred workers, many young females and some even children, from immigrant families that fled Italy, Russia, or Poland. They were working 14 hours a day in order to make barely enough to support their families. However, this tragedy led to the passage of new laws that began setting standards for minimum wage, maximum hours, and better working conditions (American Experience). Today, we are seeing a new tragedy taking place. Immigrant workers are still being forced to go to work in conditions that put them at high risk of contracting COVID, largely due to crowded working conditions in factories and fields (Jordan).

The irony here is that these immigrant workers have been deemed “essential” by the government, and yet a large portion of them have also been deemed “illegal” by the government. They are expected to work these labor-intensive jobs and put themselves at risk all while living in fear of being deported at any moment and facing discrimination from society. This shows that the labor immigrants contribute is vital to the economy. It also demonstrates how strong and determined they are to be willing to deal with these terrible conditions in order to earn enough for their family. However, it is also important to note here that they shouldn’t have to.

I come from a proud family of immigrants. We have my grandma’s citizenship documentation framed in my living room next to a booklet that reads “A Welcome Guide to USA Citizenship.” For me, there are almost daily reminders of my family’s history. However, for a lot of people, this is not the case. It is often easy to forget that all of us (barring those of indigienous descent) are descendents of immigrants. Our forefathers also came to America seeking a better life and most faced harsh conditions as well, some also faced the discrimination from the government and general public immigrants still experience today. Immigrants from Asia, those from China in particular, have a history of being discriminated against by the government. For example, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 banned the immigration of Chinese laborers into America (Twohig, slide 63). This took place after Chinese laborers had played an incredibly important role in the building of the transcontinental railroad. However, instead of recognizing their contributions, the American government responded by halting any further immigration. Chinese laborers were also the target of abuse by white laborers. They were shot, beaten, and ultimately driven out of laboring jobs, forcing many to seek self-employment (Takaki 145). Chinese immigrants were being accused of stealing white jobs. Sound familiar? This hostility towards immigrants connects back to this idea that white people are the true Americans and are therefore more deserving than those grouped under “other.” The ideology of nativism makes it all the more easier to forget that these immigrants share the same struggles as us and we are all working towards the same goals in life. Combined with the use of the word “illegal” in reference to undocumented immigrants, it also makes it easier to forget that these immigrants are still human people with human needs and deserving of basic rights and freedoms.

Throughout history, we can see that even white immigrants, such as those from Ireland or Italy, were discriminated against. Meanwhile, today, feelings towards immigrants have become more heavily embedded with race and ethnicity. The different uses of identities such as American vs Asian American/Mexican American/etc. continues to perpetuate this idea that only white people are “true Americans.” This only works to support feelings of white superiority. However, it is important to recognize that race is merely a social construct. There are no genetic markers to indicate different races or ethnicities (Omi and Winant). The way our society operates has become so centered around the idea of distinct ethnic or racial groups and corresponding stereotypes associated with them. It leaves us with ingrained biases that impact our actions, whether we realize it or not. These implicit associations represent just another obstacle to overcome in order to start recognizing the positive contributions of immigrants and working to support them in society.

Another important obstacle to overcome is the lack of representation for immigrants in politics and other positions of power. They are unable to truly fight for more rights and against current abuse they face when they lack the power to make any sort of change. For undocumented immigrants, it can be worse because of the fear of deportation. Speaking up and speaking out draws attention, risking exposure. Many likely keep quiet out of a need to stay under the radar, much like my own uncle when he came to America. Instead of fighting against his own mistreatment by employers, he stayed quiet in order to protect this new livelihood he had struggled so much to achieve for him and his family.

A crucial, yet simple, step people can take to begin tackling important immigration issues is simply educating themselves on the topic. Recognizing the similarities between yourself, your own family history, and this newer wave of immigrants can help destroy this idea of “other,” unifying us by bonding over the struggles we all face. It is important to realize we all simply want this better life and to provide for ourselves and our family. People can also begin to educate themselves on the contributions of immigrants. The media and many other people in power spread lies about what a drain on resources undocumented immigrants are, which are consistently proven to be false. A study done by the Pew Research Center also shows that political ideology is becoming divided by education with more educated people having more liberal political views (“Ideological Gap Widens”). These views are more consistent with supporting immigrants and new positive immigration laws than conservative views, showing that just pursuing more education can be a start towards shifting public favor in support of immigrants.

This also ties into the next action people can take: electing politicians who support immigration reform or voting for laws that help immigrants instead of making their lives harder. Immigrants who became US citizens are less likely to vote or be involved in politics than US-born citizens or naturalized citizens (Baldassare, et al). This means a certain degree of responsibility falls on US-born citizens and naturalized citizens to vote in a manner that supports immigrant communities. Adding in undocumented immigrants that are unable to vote, an even larger number of them are not able to fight for their own rights. Therefore, we must band together, citizens alike, to help them create these necessary changes. Another small thing people can do is volunteer at or donate to organizations that aim to help immigrants. A quick internet search can show local organizations and federal organizations that are working on supporting and helping immigrant communities.

Institutions also have an important role to play. The government can start by making the immigration process and obtaining legal papers easier. This includes protection for immigrants already living here, legal or not. By offering aid instead of prosecution, it creates a more stable environment for undocumented immigrants and allows them certain freedoms they didn’t have before. Instead of living in fear, they would be allowed to come forward with crimes and fight back against being taken advantage of.

There should also be the establishment of certain programs centered around education and employment for immigrants and their children. I remember hearing stories from first-generation college students who struggled with their applications because no one in their family had ever gone through the process before. Even simply offering some sort of assistance there can lead to more opportunities for immigrant children by helping them get into college. We can also look here at how DACA has impacted society. This is one of the more notable steps the government has taken in helping immigrants and it has paid off. A study on DACA recipients showed multiple positive impacts, such as these recipients are creating new businesses at a higher rate than the general population and they report an average increase in hourly pay of 69 percent (Wong, et al). This tells us that they are not only creating new jobs and stimulating the economy by starting more businesses, but they are also making more money, meaning they are paying more in taxes and have more money to spend. Using DACA as an example illustrates how helping immigrant communities helps American society too.

Institutions can also begin to help immigrants by providing more affordable housing in communities. As someone who has lived in the Bay Area my whole life, affordable housing has always been an issue for a number of people. High rents combined with a low minimum wage has led to an ever-growing homeless population, a number of people being forced to work multiple jobs in order to keep a roof over their head, and many having to ask themselves the question of if they pay rent for the month or put food on the table. However, cities are beginning to take action. A housing development in Oakland, CA has built a 64 acres complex called Brooklyn Basin. This complex is designed to include retail space, parks and open areas, and residential homes, of which 465 are designated to be affordable housing. It also claims to create 10,000 jobs (“Brooklyn Basin”). Using this move by the Oakland community as a model, we can see that putting an emphasis on creating more affordable housing can benefit a number of poorer communities while also creating jobs to stimulate the economy. While this is a more broad move institutes can take, it still does impact immigrant communities as they tend to be lower-income. Offering affordable housing that immigrants can take advantage of means they have to work less and have more time for a number of positive things, such as pursuing education, spending more time with their families, or simply developing new hobbies. These small day-to-day activities are often overlooked, but they are still basic freedoms a human should have.

These immigration issues do not just impact immigrants, but society as a whole. There is a consistent lack of recognition for all the contributions they make beyond just working in fields and factories. Albert Einstein made great contributions to science. Levi Strauss invented jeans, a staple in everyone’s wardrobe. Madeleine Albright was the first female Secretary of State. They act as proof that immigrants have the capabilities to do great things in society. However, many are held back due to circumstances beyond their control, whether it be an inability to afford higher education or having to work multiple jobs to support their families. We, as a society, have the means to provide support and welcome immigrants. By establishing programs and laws to help make life easier for immigrants, we can begin to create a more diverse and accepting society, leading to even greater developments in our future. Even change on an individual level can help start to tackle these larger issues.

Works Cited

Baldassare, Mark, et al. “Immigrants and Political Engagement.” Public Policy Institute of California, Public Policy Institute of California, 17 May 2021.

“Brooklyn Basin.” Signature Development Group, Signature Development Group, 30 Jan. 2021.

“Ideological Gap Widens between More and Less Educated Adults.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 26 Apr. 2016.

Jordan, Miriam. “Farmworkers, Mostly Undocumented, Become 'Essential' during Pandemic.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Apr. 2020.

Omi, Michael, and Howard Winant. Racial Formation in the United States: From the 1960s to 1990s. Routledge, 1994.

Takaki, Ronald. A Different Mirror. Little, Brown and Company, 1993.

“Triangle Fire: A Deadly Accident in New York.” PBS, 2011. Kanopy,

Twohig, Niall. “The Changing Face of Caliban.” WCWP 100, 1 July 2021, UCSD. Lecture.

Wong, Tom K, et al. “DACA Recipients' Economic and Educational GAINS Continue to Grow.” Center for American Progress, Center for American Progress, 19 Sept. 2019.