New U.S. Immigrants
Ade James’ quotes, “We’re still Africans,” and “I’d rather be in Nigeria than here,” pinpoint the exact problem with so many of the new immigrants. For the majority of old immigrants there was no other place they’d rather be. Their dream was being able to call the U.S. “home.” Learning the language and becoming a citizen were their first priorities.
Once they were citizens they didn’t identify themselves as Irish-Americans or Italian-Americans, etc. Just simply (and proudly) as Americans.
MICHAEL LAURENCE
Sherman Oaks
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