Jasmine: Being an immigrant means carrying stories that too often go unheard. I’ve been told to ‘go back to my country.’ I’ve had people mock my accent …the way I speak, the way I sound, like it makes me less intelligent or less worthy.
But what they don’t see is the courage it takes to leave everything behind and start over.
The pride I carry in my voice because it tells the story of my roots, my resilience, and my mother tongue. They don’t see the strength it takes to keep showing up, to keep dreaming, to keep loving even in a place that makes you feel invisible. How deeply I love this country, even when it doesn’t always love me back How proud I am of my roots because they’re what made me resilient.
I’m not sharing this to ruin anyone’s celebration. I’m sharing it to remind people: we are part of this story too.
Immigrants take care of your children, build your homes, cook your food, pay our taxes, and fight for this country like it’s our own because it is.
We are immigrants. We are Americans too. And we belong.