Thread by @yuhline

Hi. I’m an American. We are a country that should pride itself on our greatest strength, which is our diversity. There is power in a name. And I am proud of the name my parents and my grandparents gave me, with all their love. 1/

I am the first born child of my entire family on my Dad’s side. My name decided the names of all of my siblings and my cousins names. It took me a moment, but I love my name. Grew to. Throughout my life, people of all backgrounds and roles have asked me to change my name. 2/

My name is me. It is who I am. It tells my story. It is my immigrant story, it is the story of my parents love, it is the story of being an Asian American, and it is the story of the diversity we should be proud of here in America. 3/

Who gets to decide what is American enough? Who gets to decide what is “assimilated” enough?

I DO represent a city of immigrants, a state of immigrants, in a country full of immigrants...as an immigrant. sounds pretty American yet why is it implied that I don’t belong. 4/

Belonging is a funny thing...Certain ppl still think they get to decide who gets to belong to a land that was stolen and then part populated with people who were also stolen by people who fight each other making rules over stolen goods, stolen land and stolen people? Follow? 5/

We find pride in being American. Being a country where anyone and everyone can belong. There shouldn’t be a proof of burden or a condition on our belonging. I represent the district in which our Statue of Liberty 🗽 stands. And hey, I’m American, I have an American name. /end