The golden door: American children of immigrants

Immigrants decide to come to the United States for a multitude of reasons. Some come for better opportunities. Others come to escape persecution.

“I was born in Argentina, but I came [to the United States] when I was eleven years old. It wasn’t my decision to come. My parents wanted to come to the United States. My father had been in World War II in Italy and was against fascism and Mussolini. So he had to leave after the war and went to Argentina [because it] was prosperous [...] but then the country started going in a really bad way like military dictatorship and my father didn’t want us to be raised like that,” said Spanish and Italian teacher Grace Silva. 

The issues of being an immigrant have been prevalent in American society since the beginning of the 20th century. One of these issues is whether or not one should assimilate to the culture.

“The idea of assimilating into an American society may not be as beneficial for an adult [...]. For their children [assimilating] probably would open up more opportunities for them. They will not feel as excluded from [American] culture,” said history lead teacher Michael Jeziorski. 

There are many aspects of American culture, whether it be the style of clothing or the English language. Some immigrants believe that it is important to teach their kids about their culture, while also teaching them how to be an American.

“It’s important to give your children a sense of tradition and to bring them up knowing exactly what it is being an American, but at the same time [it is important that children know] what their roots are. [My family and I] traveled and went to museums. [My husband and I] wanted our children to be cultured and aware that [America] is not the only country [they have a connection with],” said Silva.

Children of immigrants are considered “first-generation Americans.” Many of their values tend to be a mixture of their parents’ values and values instilled by American society. 

“I think Chinese people really value hard work. Since my parents were immigrants, they worked hard to get where they are, so they definitely instill that in me, but I do see things in a more American way. [For example,] I enjoy talking to new people and meeting new people, but I don’t think my parents do,” said sophomore Kimberly L.

A nation’s language contributes to its cultural identity. While the United States has not officially declared a national language, English is widely accepted as its primary language. Learning the primary language of the country one lives in is essential to communicate. When speaking a new language like English, immigrants’ accents tend to become more obvious. 

“There are times when [my parents and born Americans] culturally clash and you see the Chinese view come out. When they’re talking to people you can still hear the accent, and [my parents] don’t talk like an American, [...] or hold similar values,” said Kimberly L. 

The roles of men and women stem from culture and religion. These roles evolve over time. The old school of thought was that women were to be complacent and take care of the children, while men were supposed to assume the role of the “breadwinner.”

“The [most negative] thing I see in the Turkish community is sexism. There is a divide between men and women in Turkey. I wear this [hijab] so boys aren’t as attracted to me. That’s the most basic aspect of the divide. With the rules [of Islam], [men] tend to get more opportunities than us,” said senior Melike A. 

Religion is a major part of culture. Religion provides a guideline for life and teaches its followers how to live accordingly. Immigrants come to America with different religious beliefs.

“Honesty is a big part of Islam. So [my parents have] really made sure I’ve been honest my whole life,” said Melike A. 

Many conflicts, such as the Crusades, and various terrorist attacks have been motivated by religion. However, as a result of these attacks, hate crimes against Muslims in 2016 have surpassed the levels after 9/11, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Some acts of hate may be not as violent, some many Muslims are harassed because of their outward appearance.

Some Muslim children in Commack are not as prone to be violently attacked, but they seem to be becoming more exposed to “microaggressions.” 

“I work in the ambulance corps and we had this one really nice old lady as a patient. There are multiple people in the ambulance. She asked the EMT what she wanted to do; she asked a student my age the same, and then she ignored me. She could see me and everything, but if I said [I was offended] they’d say they weren’t trying to do that and that I was overthinking,” said Melike A. 

The more recent generations of Muslim Americans have to deal with small threats. However, some feel that it is almost an inconvenience to address these microaggressions.

“I try not to do this, but every time someone is discriminatory towards me, I try not to think about it. [However], I wonder if they’re doing that because I’m Muslim and I used to not think about these things before Islamophobia became more apparent,” said Melike A. 

United States policies vacillate between increasing immigration rates, and attempting to slow them down. The reasons for both involve either national security or economy.

“When there are more conservative presidents, they pass laws to slow down immigration. We can date this back to after the Russian Revolution, [...] when quota laws were passed on all countries, but misused to discriminate the Russians. Communism was spreading. How do you prevent that? You don’t let Russians into the country. When there is an economic boom, and construction jobs open up, we [America] tend to open up immigration,” said Jeziorski. 

Terrorism is not just a 21st century phenomenon. However, with technology advancing so quickly, and new ways of injuring and killing people occurring, many American citizens fear for the safety of their country. They can see immigrants as the source of the problem. In January 2017, President Trump even issued an immigration ban on specific countries, like Syria and Iraq, to quell this fear. Many thought it to be controversial.

“The argument for the bans is that it is meant to prevent potential terrorists from entering the country. However, the government has to be careful because they are choosing which countries they are restricting. The Statue of Liberty, the symbol of America, says ‘give us your poor, give us your tired, give us your huddled masses,’ it doesn’t say ‘only from certain countries.’ The foundation of this country has been built on immigration, so it is important to not steer away from these values. On the same token, it is important that the government does protect us,” said Jeziorski. 

National security is America’s foremost concern. While Americans are protected from outside threats, there are also threats within our country. While children of immigrants may not have to deal with as much prejudice as their parents may have, they still have a different experience than children whose family has been in the United States for longer. 

“This is the land of opportunity. People who really want freedom come here,” said Silva.l

Maheen K.

Published December 2017