Popaganda Episode: Growing Up Immigrant

Journalist Belinda Cai and her family.

When politicians and pundits talk about immigrants, they far too often use language that makes it seem like immigrants are… other. Not real Americans. Not able to be trusted. Their histories, experiences, and native languages, those should be pushed aside in favor of the “melting pot” of English. At the same time, stories of immigrant families are noticably absent from our pop culture. While millions of North Americans are growing up as children of immigrants, you can count the number of third-culture kids on TV on one hand.

Today's episode shares the personal stories of people growing up as first-generation Americans and Canadians. The people we interview discuss navigating their parents' traditions with their own personal politics and learning to value where they come from—despite all the cultural forces that erase immigrant stories. This episode features linguist and psychologist Julie Sedivy, poet Fatimah Asghar, filmmaker Anne Galisky, journalist Belinda Cai, and podcaster TK Matunda. Listen in. 

FULL SHOW: 

THE IDENTITY AND IMPACT OF NATIVE LANGUAGES: 

GROWING UP AS A FEMINIST IN AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY: 

DISCUSSING YOUR PARENTS' PAST:

TALKING DIASPORA, LANGUAGE, AND POETRY: 

ONE FAMILY'S STORY OF BECOMING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS: 

SPONSOR: 

This episode of Popaganda is sponsored by the Feminist Sticker Club. Do you like surprises in the mail, fun stickers, and feminist art? Feminist Sticker Club will send you an original sticker each month for only $2.50. Subscribe or gift a subscription at feministstickerclub.com.