Ebony Latina Inc. Latino Express Sept 2019 | Page 3

IT'S CULTURALLY LIT:EMBRACE
WESTCHESTER'S NEW FACE OF
IMMIGRATION & THRIVE!
EDITOR'S NOTE
Westchester is seeing some areas double in the immigrant population while at the same
time a rise in nationwide intolerance. The new face of immigration looks like a greater
diversity of countries, shades, ages, talents, and gifts. Change is happening so fast that one
can see why it could make people uncomfortable. However, rejecting people based on
origin creates new wounds that take generations to heal both for the wounded and the
inflict-or. Embracing diversity and change creates thriving communities and heals nations.
Embracing immigration means we welcome change and diversity in our communities. It
looks like people standing up against the inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants.
Embracing immigrants means we have given thought and invested time in research and
money in offering bilingual information, and applied practices of inclusion and integration
into the fabric of our daily civic and social lives.
It means we show respect to our immigrants who are being respectful based on simply
being a fellow human being. We MUST bring back our humanity. We should become more
educated on the difference between what is a legal immigration status and what is an
illegal one. I emphasize status as there are no illegal human beings only statuses.
We can not remain ignorant of our fast-changing environment. We owe it to the progress of
our children and in the name of a thriving community to be more aware, kind, respectful,
show love and inclusion, they are paying attention and duplicating our behavior.
Sony santana
Senior Editor
Latino Express | 03