Dealing with Ethic and Racial Discrimination Against Immigrants

Living in America as an immigrant, whether legal or illegal, is a difficult task. Even well-educated and successful immigrants are constantly reminded of their dissimilar appearance and beliefs. Many 'native' citizens opt to harass, intimidate, and blame immigrants for their own problems. It is assumed that immigrants are stealing the jobs of Americans, engaging in illicit behavior, and corrupting American society with 'false' ideals.

It is my stipulation that the average 'native' American holds at least a morsel of these fictitious assumptions true at heart. Rather than speak to real immigrants to learn the truth, they tend to believe any artificial portrayal of immigrants that they either hear or see. However, my goal here is not to thrash the average American for being insensitive to immigrants. I hope, rather, to suggest some techniques that you, as an immigrant, can use to both avoid and also handle situations involving ethic and racial discrimination:

Carry Your ID

Always carry your ID with you, no matter if it is a student visa, work visa, green card, or State ID. In case you encounter any government officials who are not too keen on immigrants, displaying your ID will be sufficient to prove your legal status, and thereby avoid being harassed. This is, however, based on the assumption that you have not committed a crime.

Make Friends

Many immigrants tend to cluster together with others from their own country. Although this is advantageous in some regards, it would not hurt to expand your circle by inviting some 'native' Americans into the group. My belief is that it is just as discriminatory for an immigrant to avoid a 'native American', as it is for a 'native' American to avoid an immigrant. Remember, two wrongs never make a right.

Take Legal Action

Even though more than five years have passed since 9/11, many Arab-American employees still face discrimination at work. Some Arab-Americans, for instance, are called 'terrorists' or accused of harboring anti-American sentiment. Consider also that 2008 Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, is oftentimes referred to as 'Barack Osama' merely because his atheist father was raised in a Muslim household.

If you are an immigrant (e.g. Hispanic, Arab, Asian, etc.) facing unfair treatment at work, do not be afraid to speak up about it. If your supervisors are unwilling to intervene, then consider taking legal action. If you do manage to prove your case, you are likely to win a very large payment as compensation for what you have suffered. The bottom line is that nobody deserves to be treated unfairly while trying to earn a sustainable income. Hard work should be appreciated, not ridiculed.

Educate the Perpetrator

The majority of discrimination against immigrants is perpetrated by uneducated and naive men and women who are wholly unaware of the true circumstances regarding immigration. If you encounter such an individual, try educating them. Explain how you gained entry into the country, the conditions that you must follow to remain, and the vast differences between being a legal immigrant versus an illegal immigrant.

If they have any common sense and decency, they will back off you and respect your space as a legal visitor or citizen of the United States. In case they choose to continue harassing you, however, consider seeking the assistance of a local law enforcement agency. So long as you are in the United States legally, you are afforded the same rights to safe well-being as any other American.

Conclusion

No matter how hard that we, as immigrants, try to fit in, sometimes nothing seems to work. If this describes your situation, then please do not despair or give up. Sadly, we cannot alter everybody's perceptions. Some men and women will always choose to believe themselves greater than an immigrant. All that we can do is try our best to avoid such negative thinking. Remain close to your friends and family, and move on with life. All in all, it doesn't matter what others think. All that matters is what you think about yourself.