To the Editor:

Eboo Patel’s argument that immigrant identity is a source of strength and pride isn’t lost on me. (“My Son’s Identity Doesn’t Make Him a Victim. Why Does the Social Change World Insist It Does?” March 6.) Like his son, I’m the proud child of Indian immigrants. My father came to America with $8 in his pocket, earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and eventually became a homeowner. His fortitude and integrity are the cornerstones of my life.

But it’s dangerous to suggest that identity narratives should solely serve as inspiration, without acknowledging the societal and systematic obstacles that accompany these experiences. When someone wants to dismiss marginalization, they use feel-good immigrant stories to embolden a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” stance. But many immigrants and racial and ethnic minorities don’t have bootstraps to begin with, or the bootstraps have been repeatedly cut-off for generations, particularly through discriminatory housing and banking policies.

Indian immigrants may overlook this. According to the Migration Policy Institute, 80 percent of Indian adult immigrants have at least an undergraduate degree. Our median household income is twice that of all immigrants and those born in the United States. Many come to America with or for an education, and already know English, setting us up for this success.

When Patel’s son was asked to speak about his oppression, I imagine the intention was to open minds by teaching others about unfamiliar experiences. The stories that inconvenience those who have most benefitted from the system often get swept under the rug, but they’re the stories that need to be brought to light.

Throughout history, many groups have employed that strategy to call out their marginalization and achieve monumental changes. Take the Emancipation Proclamation, women’s right to vote, and same-sex marriage. Notably, the Black community fighting for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 drew on the fortitude of their ancestors who fought to end slavery but also magnified the injustices occurring more than 100 years later.

The Civil Rights Act led to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which is why Patel’s family and mine can enjoy life in America today. The act also prohibited discrimination based on religion, which in turn encourages the religious diversity his organization promotes. And we can’t assume the work is done, especially as courts chip away at another key piece of civil rights legislation, the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

I’ve worked in the social change world for more than 15 years, from rural North Carolina to Baltimore. In my experience, nonprofits and community groups consistently push against marginalization while also promoting the strength and power of the community they represent. They simultaneously validate people’s experiences, teach others about these experiences to broaden their perspective, as well as lift people up with the strength of their identity.

Immigrants can be successful and marginalized; the two aren’t mutually exclusive. That was the case for my father and many other immigrants in America. When everyone in the country accepts that, only then can we achieve lasting, equitable change.

Rina Vaishnav Rhyne
Founder

1970 Consulting