May I speak?

“May I speak?
I’ve got to say something!
All the people here are hard workers and you just tell us that our situation is changing. But we are still in the same condition.
We don’t want more lies and long speeches. We want better money and better conditions in our jobs. We have rights and we are going to fight for them. I know what you’re going to tell me… that some of us are immigrants. But who isn’t an immigrant?
It’s true that some of us don’t have papers to work, but we work very hard and our earnings are lower than others just because we don’t have papers
and don’t speak such good English.

Listen, we speak the universal language – hard work. In this country we are supposed to have equality of opportunity and that’s just what we’re looking for, that this equality comes true.”

This timely monologue inspired by Norman Rockwell’s Freedom of Speech painting was written by Mexican immigrant Luis Hernandez in 2001 and performed in a show called DreamAmerica which our ESL class wrote and presented for Southern Westchester BOCES Adult Literacy students and audiences in our home community of Port Chester, New York.

Unable to become “documented” Luis returned to Mexico and continues to use his excellent command of English in Mexico’s thriving tourist industry.

Luis’s dream of becoming an actor in the U.S.was in fact briefly fulfilled during the performances of DreamAmerica.

Yesterday I asked members of  my ESL4-5 class to read Luis’s monologue aloud several times, then to choose a line that best speaks to today’s immigrant “situation”. In this blog and the one that follows, these thoughtful and dedicated  students speak for all immigrants with the honesty and  reality that many of us never hear.

This man started the speech with “May I speak?” because Americans don’t expect that immigrants raise their voices. And never even think that they are treated unfairly…”Hello! Why don’t you realize we are working hard, harder than you. We are human beings, same as you…We are same.” Michiyo

“We speak the universal language, hard work”
It doesn’t matter where you are from, what language you speak,
the important thing is to contribute in some way and help the country…
Immigrants come to the USA because they want a better life and they know that if they want to get it they have  to work.Then let them improve themselves: the language and their status” Ines

How to make our employer accept our working? By working more and more than what they expect. So, we come here for helping you, not making trouble. That’s why Americans should listen to us . Cookie