Projects

Call for Contributions: Dreams for Our Children: Immigrant Letters Advice to the Future

The political narrative of immigration trends is that people are fleeing their countries to exploit American resources. Immigrants are generally depicted as violent, the cause of crime and job loss, not only in America but around the world. The criminal narrative overshadows  that of the risk-taker, willing to leave what is familiar to improve the life of his family. The violence of their foreign countries overshadows the violence enacted upon them by their host countries which have put many immigrants in the situations they are in today. While there is an association of immigrants with violence, it is well documented that immigrants, and especially undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes. Research has also shown family to be a significant reason for migrating. And their efforts are well worth it, as research has also shown that the children of immigrants tend to achieve much more success than their parents and their categorical racial counterparts. For example, Africans have been said to be the most educated among minorities, especially when compared to Black Americans. This, of course is not an indication of intellectual proclivity, but could be telling of the dreams that foreign-born citizens share with their children. This book is for them.

This book intends to gather aspirations and advice for children of immigrants based on their personal experiences. The book will be formatted as letters to their children, emphasizing the lessons they want to share with children born in their host country. Also, this book will contain letters from both foreign-born nationals (first- generation immigrants who came in their late teens or later) and their children (second-generation). The aim of this project is to record the narratives of immigrants across two generations, and encapsulate these stories and their lessons for future generations.

Letters should be written in first person narrative using personal reflection and should be a minimum of 1000 words and maximum 3000 words. Please email unapologeticallyUS.blog@gmail..com or banjooo@uc.edu with Subject line: Dreams for our Children to learn more.