Hey America. Can we talk?
Look, let’s get everything out in the open. We understand that you don’t like us. If it were up to you, we wouldn’t be apart of your communities, even if you wouldn’t say it out loud. I mean, let’s face it — you think we’re a burden. When you hear us speaking our native tongue, it bothers you. You think most of us are freeloaders. Worse, you think we’re actively working against you, weakening you, poisoning you like a virus.
I get it. I get all of it. And I promise, we really don’t mean you any harm. In fact, we love you. We tend to your homes. We watch your children. We make wonderful food, art, and music. And we wanted so much to be like you, many of us risked our lives just to join you.
So in that spirit, I have one minor, completely insignificant request.
STOP FUCKING SHOOTING US.
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t raise my voice. I know it’s not my place. We just got here a little while ago, after all. I’m still new around here, and I completely get that there’s so much so many of us have to learn about this beautiful, strange land that we were all told could be the home we were searching for, a shelter of promise for our weary souls.
THAT SAID, MAYBE STOP GUNNING US DOWN IN YOUR STREETS. STOP CALLING US MURDERERS, RAPISTS, AND DRUG DEALERS. STOP TURNING US INTO ALIENS, OUTSIDERS, AND INVADERS. STOP TRYING TO ROOT US OUT LIKE WE’RE WEEDS IN A GARDEN. WE’RE FUCKING HERE, AND WE’RE NOT FUCKING GOING ANYWHERE.
Again, just consider these some suggestions. I understand your anxiety. Pretty soon, I bet you’re afraid that you may look more like us — that you may sound more like us. That your child may fall in love with one of us, and have a family with us. I bet you hate that we may be your next doctor or lawyer. And I think you’re afraid that one day, you might wake up and understand us.
And that’s okay. It’s okay to admit you’re afraid of change.
BUT IT’S NOT OKAY TO FUCKING MURDER US FOR IT. BECAUSE WHEN IS IT ENOUGH? YOU HUNT US LIKE ANIMALS. YOU CAGE US LIKE THEM, TOO. YOU DESTROY OUR FAMILIES, IMPRISON OUR CHILDREN, AND TURN US INTO MONSTERS IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE MOST IMPRESSIONABLE AMONG YOU. WE GET IT. YOU’RE OBSESSED WITH US. BUT CAN YOU PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP MURDERING US.
So maybe, kindly, perhaps, just try to leave us alone. We break our backs, every single day, from your kitchens to your courtrooms, to show you we belong.
Don’t kill us for it.