An Uncomfortable Truth

It is true that Miami is full of immigrants from a lot of different countries; and it is also true that the more people migrate, the more others will be forced to assimilate this phenomenon. However, one cannot just look at the consequences without understanding the causes.

In addition, because there is a great diversity of cultures in one place it becomes difficult for some people to accustom to live with others who come from a different cultural and social background. It seems that we as human beings tend to don’t like the other, what is different, what moves us out from the security of our set of values and culture that has been already established since and even before we were born. Additionally, the fact that many people have had different experiences when migrating also plays an important role as the way persons live and behave in the foreign country; therefore, it seems to me not enough just to victimized immigrants but to understand that at the same time we, immigrants can become oppressors among us and/or of other groups of people as well.

When it comes to the situation in Miami and the relationships among different immigrant groups this dichotomy of victims and oppressors is seen frequently; therefore, Miami is not a really melting pot but more like a sandwich in which its ingredients are not combine but just next to each other; even more, this lack of unity among immigrants becomes more complex than just an immigration issue.

Starting from the origin country there are divisions of race and socio-economics, it is a reality that we must not ignore. Therefore, when people migrate to another country they also carry all these stereotypes, prejudices and off course culture of their home country. However, once we get to another country many of us tend to forget certain privileges we had and then label ourselves just as victims of the system.

Consequently, we cannot be blind and say that even among Hispanics we are all united, it is more complex than that. I have found and heard that even among people from the same country who had to face the consequences of being an immigrant they don’t help to each other, and as said before it is not just because we are immigrants but also because of social, economic and even for ethnicity reasons.

I’m talking specifically for Hispanics because I’m Colombian and it is the reality I have faced; therefore, I think it is very important to be honest with each others and understand that even within Hispanic immigrants there are many divisions. Actually, maybe the only time I’ve seen people getting together is when it comes to immigration reforms and policies; but even there, a lot of differences in interests emerged.

Chains of Oppression

Additionally, I also ask myself about how will I feel if in Colombia I find that people around me don’t speak Spanish; if it wasn’t because I’m aware of the dynamics of the system I will act just like many of the people who live in U.S.A. : I will feel frustrated and maybe angry because I cannot make myself understand nor understand what others are saying. I think we as humans tend to just look at aspects that benefit our behaviors but we seldom think about how other people feel because of our attitudes; we, tend to be very ethnocentric creatures.

However, I’m not saying that immigrating to another country is a mistake, it is just the consequence of neoliberalism and globalization, but when it comes to say that many people living in U.S.A. discriminate others it is important to take a critical point of view and being able to understand the what, the why and the how.

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