Introduction to ‘Define American’
Define American highlights the perspective of immigrants in Contra Costa County. Their stories explore the reasons someone might leave their home country: the social and economic challenges they face upon arriving somewhere new; the legal complexities of the immigration processes; the merits of maintaining cultural ties; and the triumphs of finding peace in a new home.
Everyone living in the United States has a story to tell. They are bound to their homes, in America and abroad, joined by the shared experience of culture.
People from across the world call this country home, and their descendants will call it home too. Like those born in the United States, immigrants come to this country to build a better life, understand themselves, and nurture connections in the communities they reside in.
Immigration organizations report nearly a quarter of the Contra Costa population is made up of immigrants, recorded as either undocumented or on refugee status.
But these people are more than numbers. As useful as census data can be in understanding population demographics, it is incredibly easy to misinterpret statistics and dehumanize people through generalization and biased media coverage.
Humans easily categorize individuals without comprehending the full scope of an issue to provide a brief understanding of the world. However, placing people in categories can lead to the persecution of society’s “others.”
It’s one thing to acknowledge everyone is human in passing, and another to acknowledge everyone as a complex being with unique experiences. Connecting to someone — to showcase the humility of those reduced to statistics and derogatory phrases — is of utmost importance in a divided society.
Despite national borders aiming to separate and define, it can also give way to threads that unite.
About the project and reporting team
The Los Medanos College Experience reporting team interviewed five immigrants within the community and consulted with several experts to understand the legal procedures and complexities involved in gaining citizenship in the United States.
The reporting culminated in a documentary video alongside the special issue, and an on-campus activity that invited students and staff to map their family history during Welcome Week hosted at the beginning of the fall semester.
This project is supported by the California Humanities Emerging Journalist Fellowship Program in collaboration with John Lightfoot, its director of Media and Journalism Programs; Joaquin Alvarado, former director of the Center for Investigative Reporting and founder of Studio To Be; and Experience Adviser Cindy McGrath.
For more information about the fellowship program, visit www.calhum.org.
Any views or findings expressed in this Define American project, which includes a print special section and accompanying video, do not necessarily represent those of California Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Editor’s note
Define American is a special project surrounding immigration, told through the voices of diverse perspectives in Contra Costa County. Check out the other related stories.
