[Music] mom dad I’m going to the US wait a
mom dad I’m going to the US wait a
mom dad I’m going to the US wait a minute seriously no you’re not come on
minute seriously no you’re not come on
minute seriously no you’re not come on mom I got this great scholarship it’s a
mom I got this great scholarship it’s a
mom I got this great scholarship it’s a full-bridge scholarship I gotta go I’m
full-bridge scholarship I gotta go I’m
full-bridge scholarship I gotta go I’m gonna go do some graduate work in the US
gonna go do some graduate work in the US
gonna go do some graduate work in the US no you’re not you can’t leave a month
no you’re not you can’t leave a month
no you’re not you can’t leave a month later I was in Columbus to my parents
later I was in Columbus to my parents
later I was in Columbus to my parents dismay and anger coming to columbus was
dismay and anger coming to columbus was
dismay and anger coming to columbus was interesting at the beginning it was
interesting at the beginning it was
interesting at the beginning it was shocking you have to get used to a lot
shocking you have to get used to a lot
shocking you have to get used to a lot of things you’re not used to
of things you’re not used to
of things you’re not used to transportation all these people all
transportation all these people all
transportation all these people all these cars and but despite all the the
these cars and but despite all the the
these cars and but despite all the the newness of it I was very excited because
newness of it I was very excited because
newness of it I was very excited because I was going to do what I wanted to do
I was going to do what I wanted to do
I was going to do what I wanted to do after I started to you know and I had to
after I started to you know and I had to
after I started to you know and I had to enroll in classes and everything so I
enroll in classes and everything so I
enroll in classes and everything so I had to fill out all kinds of forms and
had to fill out all kinds of forms and
had to fill out all kinds of forms and this forms I have to check I had to
this forms I have to check I had to
this forms I have to check I had to check boxes we traveled I was not used
check boxes we traveled I was not used
check boxes we traveled I was not used two boxes that said African American
two boxes that said African American
two boxes that said African American Caucasian indian asian Hispanic all
Caucasian indian asian Hispanic all
Caucasian indian asian Hispanic all kinds of boxes and I never knew what
kinds of boxes and I never knew what
kinds of boxes and I never knew what kind of box I fit in because I was
kind of box I fit in because I was
kind of box I fit in because I was coming straight from Costa Rica where
coming straight from Costa Rica where
coming straight from Costa Rica where you don’t check boxes you are a national
you don’t check boxes you are a national
you don’t check boxes you are a national of Costa Rica and that’s what you are
of Costa Rica and that’s what you are
of Costa Rica and that’s what you are first and after you are whatever it is
first and after you are whatever it is
first and after you are whatever it is that you are so that was very different
that you are so that was very different
that you are so that was very different that’s that’s when I actually realized
that’s that’s when I actually realized
that’s that’s when I actually realized that I was I mean it’s not that I did
that I was I mean it’s not that I did
that I was I mean it’s not that I did not know I was black but that’s when I
not know I was black but that’s when I
not know I was black but that’s when I actually realized that here in the US
actually realized that here in the US
actually realized that here in the US black was going to be first than
black was going to be first than
black was going to be first than anything else after that I started
anything else after that I started
anything else after that I started classes the thing is going fine I was
classes the thing is going fine I was
classes the thing is going fine I was having a lot of fun but then I started
having a lot of fun but then I started
having a lot of fun but then I started noticing that I was labeled
noticing that I was labeled
noticing that I was labeled african-american which is not a problem
african-american which is not a problem
african-american which is not a problem because like I say I’m very proud of who
because like I say I’m very proud of who
because like I say I’m very proud of who I
I
I I’m proud of my blackness however when
I’m proud of my blackness however when
I’m proud of my blackness however when you’re labeled african-american there is
you’re labeled african-american there is
you’re labeled african-american there is this baggage of things that comes with
this baggage of things that comes with
this baggage of things that comes with it there’s this expectations like for
it there’s this expectations like for
it there’s this expectations like for example I had to know the history of the
example I had to know the history of the
example I had to know the history of the struggle of african-americans in the US
struggle of african-americans in the US
struggle of african-americans in the US I had to know answers to rap questions
I had to know answers to rap questions
I had to know answers to rap questions rap music which i didn’t know i had to
rap music which i didn’t know i had to
rap music which i didn’t know i had to know about food I had to know about all
know about food I had to know about all
know about food I had to know about all this things that I didn’t I wanted to
this things that I didn’t I wanted to
this things that I didn’t I wanted to learn about it but I didn’t so I ended
learn about it but I didn’t so I ended
learn about it but I didn’t so I ended up not being really considered to black
up not being really considered to black
up not being really considered to black in my department there was also
in my department there was also
in my department there was also assumptions made about me like you know
assumptions made about me like you know
assumptions made about me like you know maybe maybe not too smart maybe needed a
maybe maybe not too smart maybe needed a
maybe maybe not too smart maybe needed a little bit extra time all these
little bit extra time all these
little bit extra time all these different things that I wasn’t used to
different things that I wasn’t used to
different things that I wasn’t used to there were also suspicions about me for
there were also suspicions about me for
there were also suspicions about me for example when I went to a store sometimes
example when I went to a store sometimes
example when I went to a store sometimes people just follow me through this door
people just follow me through this door
people just follow me through this door but I’m not doing anything but that’s
but I’m not doing anything but that’s
but I’m not doing anything but that’s the way it was and I realized that it
the way it was and I realized that it
the way it was and I realized that it came with being african-american later
came with being african-american later
came with being african-american later on my kids are born to kids max Andorian
on my kids are born to kids max Andorian
on my kids are born to kids max Andorian and then I started worrying about my
and then I started worrying about my
and then I started worrying about my kids because they were going to school
kids because they were going to school
kids because they were going to school and I wondered how are they going to be
and I wondered how are they going to be
and I wondered how are they going to be treated at school and we had a few
treated at school and we had a few
treated at school and we had a few issues here and there name calling my
issues here and there name calling my
issues here and there name calling my son labeled violent because he reacted
son labeled violent because he reacted
son labeled violent because he reacted to name-calling or sometimes my son
to name-calling or sometimes my son
to name-calling or sometimes my son being cold not too smart because he was
being cold not too smart because he was
being cold not too smart because he was too active all kinds of things started
too active all kinds of things started
too active all kinds of things started happening different grading system for
happening different grading system for
happening different grading system for my son so I realized that it also comes
my son so I realized that it also comes
my son so I realized that it also comes with being african-american which is an
with being african-american which is an
with being african-american which is an awful thing that we have to deal with
awful thing that we have to deal with
awful thing that we have to deal with there was also the fact that when my son
there was also the fact that when my son
there was also the fact that when my son started driving great now he can go to
started driving great now he can go to
started driving great now he can go to school by himself who
school by himself who
school by himself who but then there’s another worry I have to
but then there’s another worry I have to
but then there’s another worry I have to worry about him driving to school and I
worry about him driving to school and I
worry about him driving to school and I did not worry until he was stopped by
did not worry until he was stopped by
did not worry until he was stopped by the police and maybe was just driving to
the police and maybe was just driving to
the police and maybe was just driving to school it was just two miles to get to
school it was just two miles to get to
school it was just two miles to get to school and he was stopped by the police
school and he was stopped by the police
school and he was stopped by the police so then although we had already had to
so then although we had already had to
so then although we had already had to talk about being careful we had to
talk about being careful we had to
talk about being careful we had to reinforce again honey when you drive in
reinforce again honey when you drive in
reinforce again honey when you drive in certain neighborhoods even though it is
certain neighborhoods even though it is
certain neighborhoods even though it is our neighborhood you have to be careful
our neighborhood you have to be careful
our neighborhood you have to be careful do what the police says you need to
do what the police says you need to
do what the police says you need to raise your hands raise your hands get
raise your hands raise your hands get
raise your hands raise your hands get out of the car and did not turn your
out of the car and did not turn your
out of the car and did not turn your back or if you have your wallet in the
back or if you have your wallet in the
back or if you have your wallet in the car when you get in the car put it
car when you get in the car put it
car when you get in the car put it somewhere where you don’t have to reach
somewhere where you don’t have to reach
somewhere where you don’t have to reach into your pockets which is something
into your pockets which is something
into your pockets which is something that I has a Costa Rican I was not used
that I has a Costa Rican I was not used
that I has a Costa Rican I was not used to and it’s an awful thing for parents
to and it’s an awful thing for parents
to and it’s an awful thing for parents to have to deal with that that’s I think
to have to deal with that that’s I think
to have to deal with that that’s I think it is ironic that we are
it is ironic that we are
it is ironic that we are african-american and we are so visible I
african-american and we are so visible I
african-american and we are so visible I mean you can see us anywhere however it
mean you can see us anywhere however it
mean you can see us anywhere however it is this visibility that makes us
is this visibility that makes us
is this visibility that makes us invisible a lot of times because
invisible a lot of times because
invisible a lot of times because sometimes we don’t matter that was the
sometimes we don’t matter that was the
sometimes we don’t matter that was the one slit one label the change the way I
one slit one label the change the way I
one slit one label the change the way I was and who I became and who I am now i
was and who I became and who I am now i
was and who I became and who I am now i am proud of being labeled
am proud of being labeled
am proud of being labeled african-american because i cannot help
african-american because i cannot help
african-american because i cannot help but to say yes i am african-american i
but to say yes i am african-american i
but to say yes i am african-american i am part of this group of people who have
am part of this group of people who have
am part of this group of people who have struggled through centuries and we have
struggled through centuries and we have
struggled through centuries and we have survived and we keep on surviving and we
survived and we keep on surviving and we
survived and we keep on surviving and we will keep on surviving the next label
will keep on surviving the next label
will keep on surviving the next label that i will tell you about happening
that i will tell you about happening
that i will tell you about happening 1992 when i graduated from the ohio
1992 when i graduated from the ohio
1992 when i graduated from the ohio state university i even though my
state university i even though my
state university i even though my parents did not want me to come i ended
parents did not want me to come i ended
parents did not want me to come i ended up getting two masters degrees from
up getting two masters degrees from
up getting two masters degrees from their high state university and then
their high state university and then
their high state university and then they were very happy
they were very happy
they were very happy so everything was good name so I went
so everything was good name so I went
so everything was good name so I went back to Costa Rica worked for two years
back to Costa Rica worked for two years
back to Costa Rica worked for two years I became a professor at the University
I became a professor at the University
I became a professor at the University of Costa Rica because that was the what
of Costa Rica because that was the what
of Costa Rica because that was the what I needed to do to fulfill my requirement
I needed to do to fulfill my requirement
I needed to do to fulfill my requirement for the scholarship after those two
for the scholarship after those two
for the scholarship after those two years I married to my ex-husband out my
years I married to my ex-husband out my
years I married to my ex-husband out my ex-husband who is from Columbus so I
ex-husband who is from Columbus so I
ex-husband who is from Columbus so I came back to the US and on all those 13
came back to the US and on all those 13
came back to the US and on all those 13 1994 that’s what I entered the US as you
1994 that’s what I entered the US as you
1994 that’s what I entered the US as you know to stay here so as I’m married and
know to stay here so as I’m married and
know to stay here so as I’m married and I have to live here now so the first
I have to live here now so the first
I have to live here now so the first thing we have to do is to legalize my
thing we have to do is to legalize my
thing we have to do is to legalize my situation my status so we send the
situation my status so we send the
situation my status so we send the application in with a check of one
application in with a check of one
application in with a check of one hundred and thirty dollars which now is
hundred and thirty dollars which now is
hundred and thirty dollars which now is like a thousand plus dollars and then we
like a thousand plus dollars and then we
like a thousand plus dollars and then we go through the vetting process
go through the vetting process
go through the vetting process fingerprinted interviews and the
fingerprinted interviews and the
fingerprinted interviews and the interview was separate first and then
interview was separate first and then
interview was separate first and then together to make sure that we were not
together to make sure that we were not
together to make sure that we were not faking the marriage thing look if I
faking the marriage thing look if I
faking the marriage thing look if I could but anyway I went through the
could but anyway I went through the
could but anyway I went through the whole process and then on april nineteen
whole process and then on april nineteen
whole process and then on april nineteen ninety-five I became a legal resident of
ninety-five I became a legal resident of
ninety-five I became a legal resident of the United States now for 19 years I
the United States now for 19 years I
the United States now for 19 years I thought this is just enough I don’t need
thought this is just enough I don’t need
thought this is just enough I don’t need to pay all that money to become a
to pay all that money to become a
to pay all that money to become a citizen I’m going to have similar rights
citizen I’m going to have similar rights
citizen I’m going to have similar rights I’m I’m working I’m raising my kids so I
I’m I’m working I’m raising my kids so I
I’m I’m working I’m raising my kids so I don’t need to do all the extra stuff but
don’t need to do all the extra stuff but
don’t need to do all the extra stuff but then in 2013 all this rhetoric about
then in 2013 all this rhetoric about
then in 2013 all this rhetoric about immigrants 2013-2014 of this rhetoric of
immigrants 2013-2014 of this rhetoric of
immigrants 2013-2014 of this rhetoric of immigrants started coming out and being
immigrants started coming out and being
immigrants started coming out and being very negative so I thought huh I think
very negative so I thought huh I think
very negative so I thought huh I think this is about time that I do something
this is about time that I do something
this is about time that I do something about it so I decided to become a
about it so I decided to become a
about it so I decided to become a citizen again vetting process this time
citizen again vetting process this time
citizen again vetting process this time it wasn’t 100
it wasn’t 100
it wasn’t 100 to not thirty dollars this time a six
to not thirty dollars this time a six
to not thirty dollars this time a six hundred and eighty dollars and I went up
hundred and eighty dollars and I went up
hundred and eighty dollars and I went up it went up to 7 25 we sent all the
it went up to 7 25 we sent all the
it went up to 7 25 we sent all the paperwork get also interviewed again
paperwork get also interviewed again
paperwork get also interviewed again fingerprinted all the whole nine yards
fingerprinted all the whole nine yards
fingerprinted all the whole nine yards and on August 13 2014 I became a citizen
and on August 13 2014 I became a citizen
and on August 13 2014 I became a citizen of the United States of America I was
of the United States of America I was
of the United States of America I was very happy thank you I was very happy
very happy thank you I was very happy
very happy thank you I was very happy because I thought now uh this is it’s
because I thought now uh this is it’s
because I thought now uh this is it’s all good you know I’m gonna be faith I
all good you know I’m gonna be faith I
all good you know I’m gonna be faith I don’t have to worry about anything but
don’t have to worry about anything but
don’t have to worry about anything but it’s not really the case because what
it’s not really the case because what
it’s not really the case because what happens is that in the past the idea of
happens is that in the past the idea of
happens is that in the past the idea of an immigrant was this person who is
an immigrant was this person who is
an immigrant was this person who is coming to to America work really hard be
coming to to America work really hard be
coming to to America work really hard be determined really strong pursue the
determined really strong pursue the
determined really strong pursue the American Dream be the building block of
American Dream be the building block of
American Dream be the building block of the United States of America that’s what
the United States of America that’s what
the United States of America that’s what it was in the past but it seems to be
it was in the past but it seems to be
it was in the past but it seems to be shifting a little bit now what we hear
shifting a little bit now what we hear
shifting a little bit now what we hear about immigrants a lot of times is drug
about immigrants a lot of times is drug
about immigrants a lot of times is drug dealers violent people rapists
dealers violent people rapists
dealers violent people rapists terrorists taking our jobs all these
terrorists taking our jobs all these
terrorists taking our jobs all these kinds of things that come with now being
kinds of things that come with now being
kinds of things that come with now being an immigrant which is a different thing
an immigrant which is a different thing
an immigrant which is a different thing for anybody who is an immigrant and I’m
for anybody who is an immigrant and I’m
for anybody who is an immigrant and I’m not my story is not like everyone else
not my story is not like everyone else
not my story is not like everyone else because some of us are doing very well
because some of us are doing very well
because some of us are doing very well we live our lives we have a good life we
we live our lives we have a good life we
we live our lives we have a good life we have jobs so it is ok for a lot of us
have jobs so it is ok for a lot of us
have jobs so it is ok for a lot of us but for some others is not I had a
but for some others is not I had a
but for some others is not I had a choice when i came to the united states
choice when i came to the united states
choice when i came to the united states i chose to come here because I chose
i chose to come here because I chose
i chose to come here because I chose that that to be my future however there
that that to be my future however there
that that to be my future however there are thousands of people that do not have
are thousands of people that do not have
are thousands of people that do not have the choice the choice for them is either
the choice the choice for them is either
the choice the choice for them is either you leave or you die and
I think about that every day because we
I think about that every day because we have so many we know so many people who
have so many we know so many people who
have so many we know so many people who are whose parents are immigrant I worry
are whose parents are immigrant I worry
are whose parents are immigrant I worry about our alum who are from Iran our
about our alum who are from Iran our
about our alum who are from Iran our friends from Lebanon I worry about
friends from Lebanon I worry about
friends from Lebanon I worry about everything and how difficult it is for
everything and how difficult it is for
everything and how difficult it is for them to actually go to a safe place this
them to actually go to a safe place this
them to actually go to a safe place this letter this letter said that I represent
letter this letter said that I represent
letter this letter said that I represent the promise of the American dream
the promise of the American dream
the promise of the American dream because of my determination and this
because of my determination and this
because of my determination and this great nation is now my nation but is it
great nation is now my nation but is it
great nation is now my nation but is it really because when you see me you see
really because when you see me you see
really because when you see me you see the color of my skin you don’t see my
the color of my skin you don’t see my
the color of my skin you don’t see my essence you don’t know who i am when you
essence you don’t know who i am when you
essence you don’t know who i am when you hear me you hear my accent so you assume
hear me you hear my accent so you assume
hear me you hear my accent so you assume people assume that I am from somebody
people assume that I am from somebody
people assume that I am from somebody somewhere else so the question is where
somewhere else so the question is where
somewhere else so the question is where are you from well i usually say i am
are you from well i usually say i am
are you from well i usually say i am from the US on a US citizen no really
from the US on a US citizen no really
from the US on a US citizen no really where are you from so there is an
where are you from so there is an
where are you from so there is an implication there that I am NOT from
implication there that I am NOT from
implication there that I am NOT from here which is not true I am a loyal
here which is not true I am a loyal
here which is not true I am a loyal citizen of the United States of America
citizen of the United States of America
citizen of the United States of America I am proud to be American and being an
I am proud to be American and being an
I am proud to be American and being an immigrant it’s not easy you know even if
immigrant it’s not easy you know even if
immigrant it’s not easy you know even if an eye that I took the choice I I came
an eye that I took the choice I I came
an eye that I took the choice I I came here by choice but it’s like you’re part
here by choice but it’s like you’re part
here by choice but it’s like you’re part of your heart is ripped and left
of your heart is ripped and left
of your heart is ripped and left somewhere else and you don’t have
somewhere else and you don’t have
somewhere else and you don’t have contact with that anymore we become
contact with that anymore we become
contact with that anymore we become Inbetweeners not from here and not from
Inbetweeners not from here and not from
Inbetweeners not from here and not from there and it’s hard um now I understand
there and it’s hard um now I understand
there and it’s hard um now I understand that when my parents when my parents
that when my parents when my parents
that when my parents when my parents said no you cannot go to the US they
said no you cannot go to the US they
said no you cannot go to the US they were thinking about me in them because
were thinking about me in them because
were thinking about me in them because they were
they were
they were children of immigrants and they knew my
children of immigrants and they knew my
children of immigrants and they knew my grandparents had that little hole in
grandparents had that little hole in
grandparents had that little hole in their hearts because home was not home
their hearts because home was not home
their hearts because home was not home anymore they can they could nope they
anymore they can they could nope they
anymore they can they could nope they could not go back home so there was
could not go back home so there was
could not go back home so there was always that little bit of loneliness in
always that little bit of loneliness in
always that little bit of loneliness in them so I think that I think I
them so I think that I think I
them so I think that I think I understand now that I am an immigrant
understand now that I am an immigrant
understand now that I am an immigrant and in the United States of America what
and in the United States of America what
and in the United States of America what it means and what my parents meant when
it means and what my parents meant when
it means and what my parents meant when they say no you can’t go I have hope
they say no you can’t go I have hope
they say no you can’t go I have hope even though things are a little bit
even though things are a little bit
even though things are a little bit rough I have hope and I hope that this
rough I have hope and I hope that this
rough I have hope and I hope that this letter becomes true for all of us it
letter becomes true for all of us it
letter becomes true for all of us it says that since our funding rate
says that since our funding rate
says that since our funding rate generations of immigrants have come to
generations of immigrants have come to
generations of immigrants have come to this country full of hope full of
this country full of hope full of
this country full of hope full of brighter future and they have made
brighter future and they have made
brighter future and they have made sacrifices a lot of sacrifices in order
sacrifices a lot of sacrifices in order
sacrifices a lot of sacrifices in order to pass the legacy of our children
to pass the legacy of our children
to pass the legacy of our children legacy from your children and
legacy from your children and
legacy from your children and grandchildren so I hope this becomes
grandchildren so I hope this becomes
grandchildren so I hope this becomes true for a lot of us and in the words of
true for a lot of us and in the words of
true for a lot of us and in the words of professor Stevens from The Ohio State
professor Stevens from The Ohio State
professor Stevens from The Ohio State University he said a few days ago that I
University he said a few days ago that I
University he said a few days ago that I heard him to all immigrants to all the
heard him to all immigrants to all the
heard him to all immigrants to all the people who feel that they do not belong
people who feel that they do not belong
people who feel that they do not belong you are enough you do belong and you are
you are enough you do belong and you are
you are enough you do belong and you are worthy thank you
worthy thank you
worthy thank you [Applause]
”
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