• About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Download App
  • Virtual Summit
  • Benefit Hub for Subscribers Only
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Find/Post Jobs
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good
No Result
View All Result
Home Social Justice Human Rights

I’m American, Just Not YOUR Kind of American: Fighting Racism with Rhetoric

Amanda HuberbyAmanda Huber
April 7, 2019
in Human Rights, Immigration, Politics
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on PinterestShare via EmailShare on Reddit

ByAmanda Huber, MSW Staff Writter

My mother migrated to this country when she was 14 years of age. She remembers sitting in her high school class and people telling her she was not an American, and my mother being clever told them that she was an American just South American. This reframe empowered her and stopped the bullying she experienced in her public NY school.  Bullying based on race and racial ties has been a prominent factor in the debates about comprehensive immigration reform. How fantastic would it be if the Legislature could put a slight reframe on the argument at look at the issues in a new light?

When looking at comprehensive Immigration reform from a social work perspective, the language that is used is oppressive and marginalizing as it essentially bullies an entire sub-group of Americans. No human is “Illegal”, and  no human can be “alien”. These terms evoke science fiction images of little green men taking over the earth. Another term that has received a lot of press and it oppressive in nature is the term “anchor babies”. In a town hall meeting with his constituents, Paul Ryan used this term to refer to immigrant children born in the United States. This term was considered offensive in 2011, yet is still in circulation. He uses this as he explains a 13 year path toward citizenship after securing the border and making it difficult to obtain employment in the United States.

The problem is the language. If beeing bullied in the school setting is not enough for these children, they are attacked on a governmental level for being born in the United States. The implication of carrying that label of “anchor baby” dehumanizes the child. Political people in power are view the child as strategic occurrence to keep the family in the country, rather than an American child born to immigrant parents who care for that child in America.

The bullies are not just on the school grounds, or in the legislature, it is also in news media. Far too often, personal values are the ones being discussed by members of the media:

“I’ve got a quick message for illegal aliens if you happen to be watching. You better start packing your bags. And to the politicians in Washington who are soft on illegal immigration, start packing up your office, because when the terrorists strike, which they will, and we find out that they’re here illegally from some other country, we will be telling all of you to get the hell out.” — Glenn Beck, May 9, 2007

The voices of the people are not presented, yet somehow the worst case scenarios are always presented as truth. In the technological world we live in, it is easy to fall into an adult version of “he said, she said, I thought” preconceived ideas are  rarely challenged because somewhere out in the technological stratosphere there are people who believe the same as you.

Let the world reframe illegal to be undocumented or refugee as the conditions of their country of origin are likely hostile. Better yet,  let this subgroup be called American, for wherever they are from be it Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Poland, once they are here and decide to put roots in this country they fit into the mix with someone or some group because they are american immigrants. This sounds like a strange concept, but this was the case when immigrants were coming from European nations. What happened?

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Ecological Systems Theory and Practice: Visualizing Human Systems

Next Post

Interview with Sherry Gaba from Celebrity Rehab and Sober House

Amanda Huber

Amanda Huber

Amanda Huber is the Immigration and Social Policy Staff Writer for Social Work Helper. She is a bilingual social worker in clinical practice and a community organizer for Latino rights which includes issues of migratory status, institutional racism, racial profiling, and the ways these issues affect the people.

Related Posts

Sex Trafficking Survivor Files Lawsuit Against Red Roof Inns
Human Rights

Sex Trafficking Survivor Files Lawsuit Against Red Roof Inns

January 4, 2023
Europe Can Do More to Protect Refugees
Human Rights

Social Work with Refugees

January 7, 2023
Hate Sites Using the Wider Abortion Argument to Spread Racism and Extremism
Health

Hate Sites Using the Wider Abortion Argument to Spread Racism and Extremism

June 29, 2022
How American Cities Can Promote Urban Agriculture
Environmental Justice

How American Cities Can Promote Urban Agriculture

November 24, 2021
How Environmental Policies Can Promote Economic Growth
Environmental Justice

How Environmental Policies Can Promote Economic Growth

June 24, 2022
New Preschool Program in Oregon is a Model for the Nation—But Challenges Remain
Education

New Preschool Program in Oregon is a Model for the Nation—But Challenges Remain

November 15, 2021
Next Post
Interview with Sherry Gaba from Celebrity Rehab and Sober House

Interview with Sherry Gaba from Celebrity Rehab and Sober House

The Ongoing Fight For Marriage Equality

The Ongoing Fight For Marriage Equality

Leave Comment
ADVERTISEMENT
What Can Be Done To Solve The Foster Care Crisis?

Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

June 24, 2022
What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

June 19, 2022
Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

April 7, 2019

Connect With Us

Twitter
FlipboardInstagram
ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram TikTok
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good

  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Buy Merch
  • Download App
  • Terms of Service
https://youtu.be/jWzjyPoSjtw

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Politics
    • Criminal Justice
    • Social Work
    • Education
    • LGBTQ
    • Technology
    • Disability
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Webinars
  • Virtual Summit
  • Career Center
  • Download App
  • Subscriber Benefit Hub
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
Sign Up with Linked In
OR

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version