For this assignment, you will be asked to write a 3-full page paper, in the form of a Diary Entry, from the perspective of someone of a Race different than your own. This means that if you are of African-American descent, pick someone who is either Muslim

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(First Name, Last Name) (Class and Section Number) Dr. Wayne Downey (Assignment Due Date)

Perspective Paper #1

There are plenty of great opportunities for my family and I now that we are in America,

and our journey to the land of the free was not an easy one. I am originally from Mexico and

some years ago traveled across the Rio Grande with my family in order to seek a better life than

what we previously had. It is not easy being a Mexican within the United States as it is hard to

endure the daily judgements I receive from others due to the fact I am an immigrant. I have had a

hard time finding work but I am willing to pick up pretty much any work offered to be to provide

a means for my family.

There is much fear in my community of Mexicans who live in the states now due to the

new president. A daily fear lives inside of me that I am afraid to tell my family of, and that is

being deported back to Mexico. I come from a very violent city in Mexico and cannot afford to

see my children grow up in that kind of society. I have tried several times to apply for citizenship

to the United States, but the lines are outrageously long, and I am always being told that another

person is in front of me when it is my turn to be called. I imagined a completely different country

before I am here, one where opportunity was everywhere and equality as well.

I have been denied access to job promotions in the places that I have worked because I

am not a citizen. I am being confined to working in the fields at some local wineries and I must

work from 4am until 9pm daily. The days are getting longer and the work is getting harder, but I

must push through these struggles to continue on for my family and I. I have been trying to save

up as much money as possible with what little dollars that I have in order to move out from

where we are right now. I am currently living in a 2 bedroom apartment and am sharing it with

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another family because they are in a similar situation as us. In total we have 5 people living in

this apartment and it’s hard getting any kind of privacy. The neighborhood is very rough and we

do not let our children out past dark because of the gang activity that happens outside our

windows.

I am constantly watched by people when I go out for work, as they drive by in their fancy

cars and stare at me. I have been called horrific names by young college kids who drive by such

as “Beaner” or “Spick.” I have even been called a “Wetback.” These names do bother me, but I

know I am doing right because I am outside and working hard and will not let these simple

words get to me. I come from a very bad area and these words are child’s play to what I have

endured, I have seen and heard things as a child that no person in their lifetime should have to

witness.

The DACA reform is very much so hurting myself and other Mexicans that are trying to

work here in the United States. The president has been very harsh in his comments about how he

views Mexicans and this is very disheartening hearing that from the leader of the country I reside

in. DACA has been now drawn out in terms renewing permits and it is making thousands of

people just like me become unemployed. I know that I will do whatever I have to do in order to

provide for my family, but turning to crime within the streets of my community is a very

daunting thought to me. President Trump has a strong emphasis on Make America Great Again,

and for me I am trying to do that and he does not see the helping hands he is turning away by

doing what he is doing.

A very scary idea is this idea that the president wants to build a wall dividing the United

States and Mexico. This is scary because not only would it create a physical wall between the US

and my home country, but it would also create a social wall even more so between our groups. I

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already deal with discrimination on a daily basis and if this wall is built I will be looked at as

even less than I do now. I am very scared of these next 4 years with this president because of the

way he portrays Mexicans, he makes it seem like we are all drug runners and criminals which is

simply not the case.

I honestly wish there was more attention to others wanting to come to the country in

regard to the struggles they will have to face. I first heard about America as a young boy and

thought it was this fairy tale place of hopes and dreams. I am now here as an adult and every day

is a constant struggle to prove myself equal among others. I have a lot to offer to this country and

I just wish they would let me show them what I can do. There will always be that drive within

myself to push through these problems because no matter what I will always try my hardest to

become a citizen and become a true American.

That is my perspective as a Mexican person who came to America to live a better life and

now I will give you my take as a White man who was born here in the states. My name is Kyle

Colquhoun and I am actually a first generation American on my father’s side. I have half of my

family from New York, and the other half from England. I live in California and I see firsthand

how many people try to come to this country in order to live a better life. It really makes me sad

to see how many people are turned away when all they want to do is contribute and make this

country a better place to live in. I think that the discrimination is out of control now that Trump

is President, and it makes me even more sad is the favoritism between groups. I honestly think

just because I am White I am given plenty of more opportunities than Hispanics. There needs to

seriously be some kind justice done from the top down because the way society is laid out right

now, the weak get weaker and the strong get stronger. It just really saddens me because how

simple a skin color can be, and how much it can affect someone’s life. I feel that if someone is

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able to do the same job as you, then they are just as good as any other person no matter where

they come from. It is also really sad that we live in a world where the president can just be

outright prejudice and get away with it, what kind of just society is that?