The
American dream tells us that in this country nothing is impossible
if you work hard, demonstrate resilience, act with integrity and persevere.
It is sad to say, but I feel deceived. I came to the U.S. as a legal
immigrant. I knew that I needed to contribute to this country in my
full capacity. I learned the language, the cultural norms, I went
to a grad school and I became a PhD. I, like many legal and undocumented
immigrants, believed in America as the land of opportunities. Unfortunately
for me, those opportunities became more evasive as I tried higher
levels of work, education, and recognition. In my case, more education
translated into less opportunity. Doors were open when I was a labor
worker; doors were wide open when I was a cook, a waiter, a floor
cleaner person, a house painter or a gardener. Nonetheless, I have
not been perceived as a good candidate for those white-collar (consulting)
positions. I was hopeful that the pay off was going to come after
finishing my program, but instead, I have succumbed to the misery
of unemployment for more than a year and half. I followed the instructions
to reach the American dream, I came here legally, I learned the language,
social and cultural norms, I got a degree, paid all my taxes; I’ve
been a good permanent resident for almost 10 years. I’ve never
been arrested or charged with a misdemeanor. I don’t know where
the equation became wrong.
I realized
that gatekeepers did not trust my skills, knowledge, integrity, perseverance,
family values, and hard work. Gatekeepers have not opened the doors
I was expecting for all these years, gatekeepers simply did not provide
the opportunity. Tell me what I did wrong.
Leo Gonzalez
Berkeley, California
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Dear
Leo,
Like
you, I came here to finish my studies, got my residency, all legal.
It has been 10 years for me too, and just now I got my first fulltime
job in my field, after doing many other jobs. I went to many interviews
looking to design a magazine. I was hired by the art director but
when I was sent down to the woman at the human resources department,
everything went downhill. She interviewed me and said that if I
get hired I will receive a phone call. And that never happened.
Later on I found out through a white blond American friend of mine
who works in the same company, that the woman from human resources
said I was "overqualified" for the job and that's why
I spent another year struggling with freelance work. For me "overqualify"
means: I have no other excuses that are legal for me to reject you,
so I invented this word because your talents clearly are many but
I still don't want you here.
That
was really depressing. Anyway, I didn't stop there because I like
to think that there are still a few people in this world that will
be fair. I found this job I have now and demonstrated my best, like
always. Luckily this company happens to like Latinos a lot, so there
are many of us in my department, all of them still learning English.
So I hope that you find the energy and the positive drive that one
needs to have an excellent interview when you encounter the right
fair human being that will give you your job.
Keep
it up!
Jennie
Santos
East Elmhurst, NY
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Thanks
Jennie for your comments. Like you, I have done many interviews,
including role playing interviews and psychological testing as well
(in addition to the credit report and consumer behavior report that
some companies have checked). There seems to be unspoken HR practices
to recruit individuals. Sometimes, they use "overqualified."
I have been "overqualified" at least 50% of the time.
Unfortunately for me, no more feedback from other recruiters, except
one that explicitly told me that I was left out because of my "cultural
background" This of course was said "off the record."
I
am glad to hear that you were able to make it after 10 years. I
am happy for all of you who have been able to succeed. I think,
in my case, I am experiencing something that many women, regardless
of color experience in corporate America: "the glass ceiling.”
In my case, and perhaps for many well educated immigrants, there
also seems to be a "glass door."
No
name or location given
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Please,
stop using the color of your skin as an excuse to blame others!
My brother, who is caucasion, had the very same struggles as you
did. He went to college, earned his way only to graduate and find
in the area he lived he was "over qualified", so had to
take other work till he was able to land a job that would take him
with all his skills & experience. Yes, he complained about this,
but for him like you, the employer just did not feel that with the
experience and qualifications he had, he could not pay him what
he was worth. If the buisness was owned by someone other than a
caucasion, he did not go home thinking it was because he was white
that he did not get hired, as should the rest of you who use the
color of your skin for an excuse.
Cynthia
Palm Springs, CA
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Cynthia: Of course your brother had no reason to think he was discriminated
against. This country doesn't have a 400 year tradition of laws
and customs that discriminate against whites.
Aponte
Miami
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I
agree 100 percent with what you said, Cynthia. His first post has
racial undertones. Once the racial chip on the shoulder is picked
up by the HR person, the interview is downhill. I had an assistant
that used to make fun of me years ago because I wore the "white
man’s shoes" as he called the suits and ties required
for my position. We were both the same age. He was from South America
and I am Cubano. I never wore the badge of color. I performed my
duties to the best or better than my abilities. Six years later,
he is still attempting to criticize me for being too white, as I
moved up the ladder without kissing anybody’s behind or lowering
my standards. There is no such thing as Latino or Hispanic. It was
a Nixon Administration word coined for census purposes only.
An
American citizen of Cuban descent..human first!
F.I
Garcia Ros
Los Angeles, CA
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Cynthia,
I don't remember reading anything in the comments preceding yours
that mentioned "color of skin". Or is it that you, like
most other uninformed people in this country, think that Hispanics
are a 'race' of people?
Let
me explain, my dear. Hispanics come in all shades of color, just
like you North Americans. We encompass all races and many nationalities.
Being Hispanic means that we share a common language, Castilian
(Spanish to you). Stop watching so much TV and please read a book
and seek some knowledge.
A
Caucasian Cuban Immigrant
Florida
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Cynthia:
I don't think any of the comments above makes any allusion to color
of skin. All comments could have very well been written by people
who are all Caucasian.
I
am Puerto Rican, and by looking at me, or listening to me, or looking
at my last name, like many other Hispanics, you could not tell what
country could I possibly come from. Like many Latinos, I have a
variety of countries of ancestry...my ancestors are Basque, Spaniards,
Dutch, French, Italian, Egyptian, and I am sure there's got to be
Taino somewhere...
My
culture and ways of thinking and being...though, are usually very
different from first generation Americans. Often times not being
hired, even by companies who advertise "Diversity" efforts
has nothing to do with color. Diversity is not about color. Most
recruiters need to hire people -- regardless of their color -- who
they assess "fit" with the overall corporate culture...
And that is the problem and reason "true diversity" is
impossible.
One
of these future days we'll get it and start integrating like we
are meant to...the new young demographic already blurs "racial"
categories and "cultural" segments... Some day we'll all
be able to play in the same orchestra and the music will be wonderfully
diverse and indescribable. Like fusion food is interesting and delicious.
Suzanne
Dallas, TX
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I
totally agree with Suzanne. I am a recent immigrant from South America
who came here legally. I have a wonderful job with people that welcomed
me and treated me with respect. I feel appreciated and that has
nothing to do with my race or color of my skin but my hard work
and the fact that I contribute to the bottom line, that's what it
is all about.
After
obtaining my master's I had many interviews for entry level positions
and I was not hired. I never blamed it on my origin or looks, that'd
be being complacent and not assuming responsibility for myself.
I do believe I was overqualified for some of those positions but
I kept looking until I found a better fit where my past experience
was valued. It is the same for other Americans in this country,
you have to find a position where your skills will be in best use.
I am not saying it is easy but I wish we as immigrants would take
more control of our destiny and stop listening to those who say
we don't have the same opportunities because that is a justification
for not working hard towards your goals.
I
love my country of origin and also love the USA because here I am
realizing my personal and professional goals. I respect this country
and its people and wish we could all get along without pushing for
differences. Loving America is not betraying your nation of origin
or culture. You can love both and become a better person. Keep the
best of both worlds and you will be a step forward from others.
Mimi
Costa Mesa, California
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This
is not my story but the story of my grandfather's sisters. Originally
from Poland, they were sent to a ghetto in Russia during WWII. After
that, they went to Canada, where they waited for the papers they needed
to legally enter the country. Finally, they settled in New York more
than 50 years ago, one sister with her son and daughter in law, the
other one single, but all living together under the same roof until
they passed away.
Her
son, (my uncle) and his wife, are in their 70s now and they still
have a lovely "Polish" accent but they raised a family of
two 100% Americans that also have grown the family from 4 to 9.
I admire
my uncle and aunt not only for their long travel "home"
but also because being hard working people they never complain, looking
always at the glass as half full.
Cecilia
Plantation, FL
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Two
brothers tell their stories...
I came
to the US in 1960 via Pan Am Airways, tourist visa, first class. My
father was a well-know journalist in Havana that became disillusioned,
and vocal about it, when Fidel declared himself a Marxist. He had
to leave with only the clothes on his back.
My mother, brother, sister and I followed my father 6 months later
after a horrible ordeal. The "guajiros" that Fidel
had appointed as bureaucrats refused to make the distinction between
my father's status as a persona non-grata and myself, a 10 year old
boy with the same name. So I was denied a visa. The issue was resolved
when my great-uncle Oscar who had lived 30 years in New York City
intervened. When we questioned him later, Oscar told us he fixed it
the capitalist way: He bribed the "campesino" with
a $100 bill!
My father told Mom to pack light, and leave all the valuables and
photos behind; he was willing to bet it all that "Patilla"
(the bearded one) wouldn't last a year. That was 46 years ago!
T.
Yaniz
Key West, FL
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I was
6 years old when we left Cuba. When you're that young you don't exactly
know what's going on, just that something's wrong. You pick on up
the vibes from the adults. The women crying, the men whispering. My
brother and I peeking at the TV and watching men being shot. My father
was an established journalist who was flown out in the middle of the
night by the U.S. State Department to take part in the big failure
of the Bay of Pigs.
Six
months after my father left we were granted visas, only to be detained
by a greedy Cuban immigration official who noticed my brother’s
name matched that of a wanted anti-revolutionist (my father). My brother
was 10 years old at the time. I remember the anxiety of thinking about
having to leave without my brother. Then my great uncle showed up
and paid that varmint off. I'm now a U.S. citizen, 52 years young
and living In Costa Rica.
Carlos
de Jesus Yaniz Palmes
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