Anchor Baby?
My ISTORIA Series
With the year 2020 shining a spotlight on racism in our world, I began to understand how I was perceived by people when I would share my upbringing. I think the first time I heard the term 'anchor baby' was in 2016 when immigration in the US became an even more hot topic with the US/Mexican border and our newly elected president Trump. The light began to shine on my mind that people all of my life may have perceived me as just that, an anchor baby. I write this hesitantly due to the political divide and woke culture in our world. My intention is in no way to criticize anyone, only share my own experience with people as I shared my upbringing with them.
As a trained therapist, I read body language very well. This can be cumbersome at times because I adjust my communication with what I am perceiving. This is helpful when I am coaching a client, or leading a group and can impede a personal relationship. With clients, I am paid to be there for them. With leadership, I am in a role of responsibility to serve. With personal communication, there is an equal give and take with completely different expectations. I cannot tell you how many times I have felt a barrier as I shared about my family. Now I understand what people were thinking.
I was the first of my family to be born in the USA. This brings back memories of the song, Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. What does it even mean? We are all from somewhere, immigrants at some point in time. 2021 exacerbated a divide and entitled citizenship with the COVID19 vaccine distribution. My mother was first eligible to get the vaccine due to her age bracket, and I went online in Knox County to sign her up. The questions that required an answer gave me great concern. One question asked what country we were born in, giving two choices, US or unknown. I questioned this to the point that I wrote about my concerns to the board of health. The board has since been dissolved due to the city council. I did receive a response from the county mayor's o#ce, as the mayor at the time served on the board. With a little research I found there were certain states with the roll out of the vaccine that had plainly stated US citizens would have priority in becoming vaccinated. This deeply concerned me. I believe health care should be available equally to all, and realize it is not. This is one example of barriers.
Realizing I am the only member of my family that can check “born in the USA,” was enlightening. My nephew has since been born in the country, so he would qualify as well. Why does it matter where we were born? Aren't we equal citizens whether we are born here or naturalized? Taking this a step further, don't human beings have equal rights to a vaccine? What about those with a green card or the undocumented? My letter to the board addressed these concerns.
What anchor baby means is that the parents came to the US to have the baby so they could be granted citizenship. My parents entered the US with a visa. My father was invited to the US as he was a scientist who brought value to the field of biophysics with his research. I was born in the US because my father was working for Johns Hopkins University. Having to explain this to justify something saddens me. Being the only member of my family born in the US could make me look like an anchor baby to some. This has been an interesting revelation for me to understand why I was seeing some defensive body language as I shared my life with others. Now I am more careful who I cast my pearls to. As I freely write this episode, all I can say is, I cannot see your faces:) This is very freeing for me!