America is one of the most famous countries in terms of immigration and cultural diversity. Because America is known as the country of unlimited opportunities, migrants from all over the world have immigrated to the United States. It is important to note the historical context of people from Western Africa who cannot be seen as immigrants because they were enslaved and sent to the US (Triangular Trade). African Americans and Hispanics are the most oppressed ethnic minorities in the States.
Hispanics:
Industrial expansion and the American Dream have led to remarkable changes in American society. Firstly, urbanisation progressed and people decided to move to the cities for better jobs. Secondly, the USA faced huge immigration waves, not only from Europe, but also from Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. A lot of prejudice exists towards Hispanics. Often, Mexican workers are looked down upon, and confronted with low-paid jobs. They face racism, unfairness in work life and discrimination. Xenophobia [dt.: Ausländerfeindlichkeit] is a very prominent problem in the United States.
Dream Act:
The Dream Act is an immigration reform which refers to young immigrants who were brought to the USA illegally by their parents. These individuals do not have the chance to gain legal residency, work legally, work for the military, or take out a loan to finance college.
The Dream Act motivated young adults by trying to remove these barriers and increased the quality of living conditions without fear of deportation [dt.: Abschiebung]. The most important aspect is the Social Security Number [dt.: Sozialversicherungsnummer] which is necessary to get a drivers licence or to be able to work.
In 2017, Donald Trump announced he would terminate the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program which Barack Obama created in 2012. Most of the so-called Dreamers are from Mexico. In 2018, the American majority approved the DACA program. Apple’s head Tim Cook has spoken up for the Dreamers, who he believes to be among most inventive employees.
African Americans:
It is crucial to talk about the situation and the treatment of African Americans. It is important to realise the existence of institutional and systemic racism, particularly within systems of authority, such as the police force. This refers to racist ideas and opinions that quietly remain embedded within the procedures, policies and culture of police training and work.
Therefore, an unequal amount of police brutality was directed towards people of African American descent. Many criminal acts by policemen against African Americans still happen, for example the murder of George Floyd or John Crawford, who was killed by a white policeman because he was holding a toy weapon in a supermarket. The media often discusses this “suppressed racism” [dt.: verdrängter Rassismus], and a lot of controversy exists about the topic. Even before the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans were treated unequal, and their opinions and rights were ignored.
This is depicted in Harper Lee’s novel “To kill a Mockingbird”, in which Tom Robinson, an African American man, presents his case in court, but essentially does not stand a chance against the white judges, jurors and witnesses. In the story, the jury rules against Robinson, even though Atticus, his attorney, successfully reveals the injustice of a racial society which has no self-awareness or desire to change.
Such incidents have had clear effects on today’s thinking. That is why people of many ethnicities are still demonstrating for equality and fighting to eliminate discrimination. While segregation legally does not exist anymore, the attitudes still remain and systemic racism is pervasive and entrenched in society. Today, institutions like Black Lives Matter are fighting, protesting and standing up for the equality of African Americans. The US is still combating racism. It is a significant problem and prevents migrants – regardless of their legal status - from living the American Dream.