South Asian Americans Share Their Parents’ Story to Mark National Immigrant Heritage Month
- Many shared photos on Twitter and acknowledged their struggles and sacrifices so their children could have a better future.
June is celebrated as the National Immigrant Heritage Month, to learn more about the history of immigrant communities throughout the generations. In a proclamation, the White House urged Americans “to reaffirm and draw strength from that enduring identity and celebrate the history and achievements of immigrant communities across our nation.”
Noting that American was built by immigrants, the White House said: “Across each generation throughout our history, wave after wave of immigrants have enriched our nation and made us better, stronger, more innovative, and more prosperous. The American story includes the story of courageous families who ventured here — be it centuries ago, or just this year — from every part of the world to seek new possibilities and help to forge our nation. In every era, immigrant innovators, workers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders have fortified and defended us, fed us and cared for us, advanced the limits of our thinking, and broken new ground.”
Many South Asian Americans took to social media to share their immigrant story. As June draws to a close, here’s a look at how some South Asian Americans honored their parents and acknowledged their struggles and sacrifices so their children could have a better future.
“Thinking today of my parents and the many immigrants like them who sacrificed so much to come to America and build a better life for their children,” tweeted U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. “Eternally grateful to them.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh wrote: This #ImmigrantHeritageMonth I’m honoring my mom and dad who moved from India. Because of their hard work and sacrifices, I was able to follow my dreams. Thanks, Mom and Dad for all you’ve done for me.”
Sonia Aggarwal, Senior Advisor for Climate Policy and Innovation at the White House honored her father in a post. “Feeling grateful for the leap my Dad took leaving his home in India for Ohio to pursue an education, meet his love, and build a strong foundation for our family,” she tweeted. “Because of his courage, I have the opportunity to serve our great nation at the White House.”
Similarly, Opal Vadhan, personal aide to Vice President Kamala Devi Harris tweeted: This #ImmigrantHeritageMonth I sit at my desk in the @WhiteHouse working for the first Black & South Asian female @VP, I think of my mom and dad who migrated from India. They, like many #AAPI families, sacrificed so much to give their children a chance at the American dream.
Fox59 news producer Amon Rizvi shared a photo of her parents. “I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am for my parents’ courage to leave their home county, learn a new culture, language, and way of life,” she tweeted. All, just to make sure their daughters had the same opportunities as their son.”
A tweet by Megha Bhattacharya, communications assistant for Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff said: “This #ImmigrantHeritageMonth I’m thinking about my parents who came here from India and all the other #AAPI immigrants who sacrificed so much in hopes for a better life in this country. I’m only where I am today because of my Ma and Baba.”
Some like Zara Ahmed, U.S. International Policy Officer at Guttmacher Institute, wished her dad for Father’s Day, and also recognized his struggles as an immigrant in the U.S. #HappyFathersDay to the best Indian-Scottish-American, wine-loving, golf-obsessed, generous & kind dad out there, @Al49_Rehab! @ZamirAtNAB and I are lucky to learn from his wisdom, knowledge of any topic, passion for life & total fearlessness!
Politicians like Susheela Jayapal, commissioner for Multnomah County, Oregon, and Ajmeri Haque, candidate for Dublin City Council in Michigan, used the occasion to reach out to their constituents.
Jayapal, sister of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal tweeted: “By recognizing Immigrant Heritage Month, we honor our stories; we acknowledge both recent and long-standing anti-immigrant bias; and we commit to creating a Multnomah County where immigrants and refugees find safety, trust, and belonging.”
“June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Dublin has a high percentage of immigrants, 18%- higher than the national average of 13%,” Haque said in a tweet. “In fact, in Ohio overall, the immigrant population is at 5%. it’s time to get immigrant representation in Dublin.”