ou may already know that June is Immigrant Heritage Month. This allows all Americans to celebrate their shared history.
One of the incredible things about America is that most families migrated here from another country. While our skin color or country of Origin may be different we all have a pretty similar story. We all came to America to find a better life and contribute as citizens and residents of the country.
Why should we celebrate immigrant Heritage month?
When we embrace each others unique perspectives, we allow ourselves the potential to be the best version of ourselves. While some of the problems we may face as a country may seem monumental and even quite daunting, we all have experience solving problems creatively. I'm reminded of the quote:
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Besides, think about the collective brainpower, creativity, ingenuity, kindness and innovation that we will be able to foster when we embrace each others diverse perspectives that come as a result of being an immigrant.
Now you may be wondering what this means for people that we're born in the U.S or may not identify as immigrants. Well, they can celebrate immigrant heritage month too! This is a time to celebrate the diverse perspectives that come as a result of us being a country with residents from places.
It's no wonder we have such a rich history as Americans. When you think about the different foods, artistry, music and sports all of those things come as a result of diverse backgrounds and heritages.
Here are 3 ways you can celebrate immigrant heritage month:
Ask about someone else's heritage. Immigrants in America have a lot to offer, they share both the experiences from their hometown country and experiences that they've picked up in America. There's nothing that puts a smile on someone's face then asking them what's it's like in their home town country. Here are some questions you can ask:
- What's it like in your home town country?
- What's the staple food in your home town country?
- What do you remember most about your home town country.
The second way you can celebrate Immigrant Heritage month is to become an Ally. You may be wondering, what is an Ally? - Well in this context an Ally is someone that is not an immigrant but believes in equal civil rights for immigrants and stands up against the unfair treatment of immigrants. As I think about what it means to be an ally I'm reminded of the quote by John Lewis:
If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it - John Lewis
Here are a few ways you can become an Ally to immigrants:
- Join community events by member organizations like the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce or National Association of Asian American Professionals.
- Learn about immigrant stories, there's a number of great podcasts that highlight immigrant experiences. You could Check out Foreign Made, a podcast celebrating the stories of immigrant innovators in America. You could also check The Immigrantly Podcast, a minority women owned & run weekly podcast that features immigrants from all different walks of life to share their immigrant experiences.
The third thing you can do is step out of your comfort zone, you could join a dance class or try a cultural food from a country you've never been to.
Is celebrating Immigrant Heritage month political???
Celebrating Immigrant heritage month should not be political. Embracing immigrant culture does not undermine or make you any less American. In fact, it's one of the many ways we can celebrate being Americans.
In Summary
2020 was a really hard year for a lot of people, we have an opportunity to take a step back and look for some of the things that make us better as a society. If the words haven't convinced you that Immigrant Heritage Month is something worth participating in. Maybe this video by Barack Obama will do the trick.
