When people are leaving their country because of safety reasons, they should be comforted in the US where they do not have to deal with these problems. Instead, they are made into outcasts. Because of this feeling of exclusion, some immigrants have tried to Americanize themselves to become more like the norm. This is not what should be happening. Rather, we should be accepting of our differences and embracing them. People living in the United States need to understand that immigrants coming into this country struggle with making a living. But, they is another side to this argument: the fear of Americans to accept immigrants because of the danger they could inflict. With the history of the U.S. including the bombing of the World Trade Center, the Boston Marathon bombing, and many more, Americans fear immigrants. Also, some US citizens do not like immigrants coming into their country because they could take the jobs that they want.  In the article, “Immigrant Perceptions of U.S.- Born Receptivity and the Shaping of American Identity,” <https://www.rsfjournal.org/doi/pdf/10.7758/RSF.2018.4.5.03.> The authors research how immigrants feel less American because of certain characteristics such as language and race

Surveys and interviews were conducted to reveal the feelings of these immigrants. This study was inspired by the concept of what American Identity is composed of. The authors of the article describe American identity as the beliefs of “individualism, hard work, freedom, equality, and the rule of law,” but also by characteristics such as, “language, skin color, native birth, and religion” (Jones-­Correa et al. 1). Researchers were looking for results that reveal how race and language impact immigrants’ feeling of exclusion in American society. They performed this test through numerous surveys. South Asian Indian immigrants and Mexican immigrants completed the surveys and were asked how their identification as Americans impacts their decisions within their communities and in the nation (52).  In the interviews, immigrants were asked how their race affects their identity as an American (56). They concluded that characteristics do indeed impact immigrants’ views on their own identification and reveal their feelings of being marginalized because of these characteristics (65).

This study was done using many surveys and interviews and in specific locations and immigrant groups to retrieve their results. They surveyed immigrants in Atlanta and Philadelphia. They studied in these two metropolitan areas because the places have large amounts of naive blacks and whites along with many immigrants from India and Mexico (54). They studied Mexican and South Asian Indian immigrants. The first reason they choose these two groups is that they are the two biggest groups in the US. Secondly, Mexicans have a lower status and Southern Asian Indians have a higher status. Lastly, Mexicans are the most affected by undocumented citizenship and Indians identity is mistaken for many other races like Muslim, Arabic, Mexican, or Native American (52-53).

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In this study, they conducted interviews via phone with about 500 people per group. The requirements to be eligible for an interview were that one has to be 18 years or older and must live in either Atlanta or Philadelphia. They were asked about their age, race, where they live, if they are employed, and how much education they have received. Although all these questions are valuable to the study, the most important question was, “In general, how strongly do you think of yourself as American?” (55).

Through this study, they found that specifically race and language impact an individual’s identity in America and these specific aspects impact his/her decision to return home. In an interview with an Indian immigrant man, the interviewer asked where the man and his parents originated and he responded with distress. He wondered why he was being asked because since he lives in the US, why would he be categorized as something other than American.

He was, then, asked if he thought it was because of his skin color and he states, “…if I’m not American, what am I? Because I have grown up thinking I am American. And all of a sudden, I feel like I’m being surrounded by people that don’t think that” (56).

His response accurately portrays the feelings of immigrants in America because even if they have been living in America their whole life or just a short amount of time, they are still Americans. Because of their race or language or whatever it may be, they are looked at as outcasts or someone who does not belong. Another example of this marginalization is from an Indian immigrant mother, who was angry at a comment a boy made to her son. While playing ball, a boy her son’s age said, “I don’t like you all people here you should go back to your country” (57). This boy was born in the US but is not treated as an American because of his race.

There were many limitations within this study. First, they only surveyed two immigrant groups in two places. This will result in a stereotype for all immigrants. To conclude that race, language, and other characteristics determine an immigrants identity in America, they should study all groups around America to eliminate bias and error.

After reading this article, my understanding of the struggles of immigrants has increased tremendously. My eyes have been opened to now seeing how Americans treat immigrants and how this treatment makes them feel excluded. Americans have marginalized immigrants so much so that they have tried to become more Americanized, which aggravated me to hear. No one should have to change who they are because of what others think of them. Also, people should not be making another uncomfortable and lonely to the point to where the person feeling different wants to change to be more like the norm. We, as a country, need to make a change to make all feel at home and comfortable with who they are and where they come from.

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Jones-Correa, Michael, et al. “Immigrant Perceptions of U.S.-Born Receptivity and the Shaping of American Identity.” RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of The Social Sciences. p. 48-80.