The Discrimination of A Mexican Immigrant

At a very young age I understood that I was different from other people in this country. I came to the United States when I was two years old and I was practically raised in America. My parents didn’t want me to grow up in Mexico because they thought that by migrating to the United States I would have a better education and we would have a better life. I learned that my parents, especially my father, were very hard working since the day we moved here. My father came here a year before my mother and I. He wanted to bring us here because there was a better chance of having a good life even if it meant working long hours and earning minimum wage. To them it was worth it because we wouldn’t suffer here. America was the land that supposedly granted peace and liberty. I was raised on a low income and my parents tried to do what was best for me.


When I first went to school I remember my mom telling me to read books and to do my homework before playing with my toys. As a small child she invested in me a sense of self development. She wanted me to learn everything on my own. My mother would occasionally help me but most of the time I would have to complete my assignments alone because she didn’t speak English. There was no one to help me so I did everything on my own.

Being an immigrant is not easy because there are a lot of people that believe immigrants steal American jobs. This is so not true because if Mexicans come here it’s to help out their families and provide money. If it wasn’t for immigrants then who would do the dirty jobs? Not rich Americans. Immigrants shouldn't be discriminated against because they want to escape their economic problems at home or want to give their families better lives. You have to understand the reasons for their migrations. I wasn't fully aware about the immigrant situation and how they were treated until my freshman year of high school. That’s when I started to boil up at racist comments and stereotypes. I remember someone at school telling a mean joke: Why are Mexicans so short? They all live in basement apartments. I know that sometimes people tell jokes about many races, especially at school and they do it for fun but I find it very offensive, especially that joke. First of all not all Mexicans are short. I know plenty of tall Mexicans. Second, they do not live in basements! I know I don’t and the rest of my family doesn’t either!


Another thing that happens to me a lot is that when a person first meets me they think I’m American. But I’m not. I found it offensive at first, but now I understand that it’s my physical appearance that conveys that thought. People should know not to judge a book by its cover.