Poised at the Precipice of Success
Many of us had the pleasure of celebrating a graduate this week. Hard work, focus and faith have come to fruition in the form of a culminating event. For many the road to arrive at this point of celebration has been a long and arduous one. As they make their way through the pomp and circumstance several graduates are making a mark for not only themselves but for their families. Attainment of education will raise not only their standard of living but the status of their families. For some immigrants achievement in education can be eradicating generations of inadequate education and allow for personal wealth and attainment not experienced before by any member of their clans.
The road to achieving higher education is paved with many pitfalls not the least of which is in affording the often high costs associated with its attainment. “Last week, New Jersey became the 10th state to offer financial aid to illegal immigrants. Along with other states like California, Texas, and Connecticut, illegal immigrants in New Jersey can now receive in-state tuition as well as taxpayer funded scholarships.” [1](Neret, 2018) While some are angered with the choices of their government to support those they see as less than deserving of this, many including the students and their families rejoice in the fact that roadblocks to the realization of their dreams have been lifted.
One such undocumented immigrant to benefit from these forward thinking efforts by governments is a living example of the hurdles necessary to be jumped by those not afforded the benefit of citizenship by their birth or blood. “Like many teens, his life is a precarious balancing act of long school days, homework done on the fly, and looming college application deadlines. But unlike many high schoolers, Avilez does not have time for internships, after-school enrichment classes and sports, or other application-boosting essentials that selective colleges look for. [He] received his work permit at age 16 via the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (known as DACA), after his parents illegally brought him into the country from Mexico as a baby. Since getting the permit, he has worked evenings, weekends, and school vacations. He sold shoes at Journeys, did a stint in construction cleanup, and now works 25 hours each week (plus additional shifts covering for colleagues) as a barista at Starbucks. “[2](Gosner & Kolodner, 2018)
Some Americans still remain closed off and even bitter at the idea of someone they count as illegal and/or undocumented benefiting from government spending in this way. “The rise of anti-immigrant and anti-refugee xenophobia on the right finds a parallel in attacks against “identity politics” on the left. The right blames newcomers, foreigners and minorities for the cultural and economic decline of the country. The left blames the same groups for insisting too strongly on their identities, which allegedly alienates some white people, distracts from the need to focus on inequality and, in academia…[With what appears to be barbarians at the gates] white identity politics, which has always been with us, [except] it was never called “white,” since American politics has implicitly been white politics throughout most of the nation’s history. What has changed is that the barbarians’ increased demands have made whiteness more visible, most especially to white people themselves. ” [3](Nguyen, 2018)
To this point many immigrants and scores of marginalized people are forced to respond: “We are not destroying anything by demanding to be part of the canon or the curriculum or the country. Those building walls are the ones allowing their fear to destroy what they wish to preserve. [The point is] it’s too late to get rid of all of us. We are here because white people were there, invading – sorry, civilizing – our countries of origin. Americans descended from Vietnamese refugees, undocumented Nicaraguan immigrants and African slaves cannot unlearn English. [The] cultures that produced the canonical greats also produced mass slavery and colonization that killed millions. Both Shakespeare and slaughter are part of the Enlightenment.”[4] (Nguyen, 2018)
This form of inclusion into Western life appears to be a very threatening point to those who feel that access to education and upward social mobility for the most marginalized sectors of our society is a threat and an insult to their very way of life. Often time this “inclusion makes other whites feel themselves to be under attack – and under threat of erasure. It is these people to whom Trump spoke when he said, in his inaugural address, “You will never be ignored again.” People who believe they are being forgotten in favor of minorities” [5](Nguyen, 2018)
Congratulations to all those who have completed their long journeys. As the saying goes and remains true, “You’ve only just begun!” Your families and many supporters celebrate with you the many sacrifices and long hours put into bring you to this summit.
[1] Neret, Eduardo (May 17th, 2018) Government spending for illegal immigrants should outrage all Americans https://washex.am/2k8Cdyn
[2] Gosner, Sara & Kolodner, Meredith (May 17th, 2018) Undocumented high schoolers work long hours, putting college further out of reach https://bit.ly/2Iw7ztn
[3] Nguyen, Viet Than (May 3rd, 2018) Books by immigrants, foreigners and minorities don’t diminish the classic curriculum https://bit.ly/2IxEF04
[4] Nguyen, Viet Than (May 3rd, 2018) Books by immigrants, foreigners and minorities don’t diminish the classic curriculum https://bit.ly/2IxEF04
[5] Nguyen, Viet Than (May 3rd, 2018) Books by immigrants, foreigners and minorities don’t diminish the classic curriculum https://bit.ly/2IxEF04
