How Will You Define Yourself as American?

Define Yourself American

Vargas and I conversing about the impact that have done for
everyone.

 Into this day, the big concept that been going around everywhere in political, social media, talk shows, and etc is immigration. There are pro and con with the statistics that they are posting or sayings around it. Biased have been going around this concept. Immigrants are the largest groups that are making a huge impact for the United States, but the nation overall. 

On Nov. 7, we had a guest speaker in LBCC that may represent few of the students that are having a difficult at this time specially the undocumented students. Jose Antonio Vargas came to speak about "How Do You Define Yourself as an American?" These question got to me as Mexican American that I am born here in United States, but also my background comes Mexico. I will not know how to define American. 

Vargas who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, filmmaker, and immigration rights activist have created a nonprofit that helps represented documented and undocumented people around the United States. This nonprofit organization is called Define American. 

The day that he have created this organization is the day that he have came as a undocumented immigrant that came from Philippines. This gave a importance to everyone even to 43 million immigrants that are in America. Their main goal is break all of the stereotypes that many have against undocumented immigrants. 

Vargas did not only talked about the documented and undocumented immigrants, but also the black folks, Native American, and indigenous people that are being affected everything that is going on.

He have explained stories about him getting a false visa card to work, lying about his status, and being scared of being caught for breaking the laws. He admitted all these things because he needed to provide for himself and prepare for his future. It is a time to the bigger person and stand tall even if he had to lose everything that he has. This have made him strong an capable to stand for everyone that could do it themselves.

Sharing your stories as a undocumented and documented immigrant is the key even if it is a happy or sad one. These stories could come to #Wordsmatter and #FactsMatter. Everyone needs to know and have the knowledge to educate themselves. People should stop coming with illusion thoughts that are false. 

Let's be the change that we could be. Our future will change Little by little. People should be scared with the changes that are coming.