You might not remember me already, but we crossed paths this beautiful evening. Let me refresh your mind.
With such beautiful weather in New York, I decided to walk home from work and use that time to talk to my mother on the phone. She is a beautiful, hardworking Mexican woman who just bought a house with my dad after working for 18 years in this country. Finally, the American Dream is complete. But, I have a feeling that you wouldn't understand about that, so I will move on with my story.
We crossed paths walking down Madison Ave in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. With my headphones on, I was talking my heart out to mom, and then you came about and shook my world.
"Shhh", you said loudly as you walked pass me. It took a second. I stopped. Looked around, and realized that you were talking to me. Was I doing anything inappropriate? No. Was I bothering or insulting you or anyone? No. What was my crime?
As you were speed walking away from me, the New Yorker in me, that I had been training for almost a year, came unleashed. "What the fuck is your problem?", I yelled looking back at you. "Speak English", you said without even turning around to look at me as you continued to walk away. "What does it fucking matter to you what I speak?", I yelled back louder. "This is America", you proudly said as you continued to cowardly go the opposite direction.
So many emotions. So many questions. So much anger and frustration. All I wanted to do was run after you, but then what? What was the right thing to do? To be honest, I was afraid that you were armed, and my mother, who heard the whole exchange, begged me over the phone to just let you go.
I apologize for not educating you. I strongly believe that I could have been your savior in this world. On that moment, I was representing those million of immigrants in different corners of the country facing racism, exclusion, and oppression only for being different. It was my chance to change your mind and I wasn't prepared. As you cowardly walked away, I was dying to tell you my story, and those of million of immigrants who suffer and struggle in this country, just to have a piece of the American Dream . If you only knew, you would feel some respect.
I noticed you were proudly wearing your Marine Corps hat. Good job.Thanks for your service. My boyfriend, son of immigrants, is also a Marine Corps vet. Allow me to make you aware that immigrants have served with distinction in the U.S. military throughout the nation's history, becoming a vital contribution. Are you also going to ask them to speak only English as they take a bullet for your country?
To be fair, you were right about one thing, this is America. My America. Country of immigrants. That is exactly why I get to speak my language of choice, be whatever religion I feel like I want to be, and love whoever I want to love. You do not have any power over me for any of those decisions.
The only reason I wanted to write this letter was to apologize to you. I am sorry that your inferiority and insecurities make you feel threaten around what is unknown for you. Not because our President represents white trash like you, means that we get to sit and conform. On the contrary; we get to stand up for one another and for what America is really about.
My strongest piece of advice is that you start getting comfortable with being uncomfortable because America is conformed by people like me, not you.
You live in one of the most diverse cities in the country, composed by millions of immigrants, and you still had the balls to be racist in the streets of Manhattan. What can we expect from the rest of the country? There is a lot of work to do.
Thanks for the empowerment!
With love,
Your Mexican, American, Bilingual, Bicultural, Female, Immigrant neighbor.
P.S. If we cross paths again, make sure to say "Buenas Tardes".
