Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez: What's missing from the American immigrant narrative | TED

108,450 views ・ 2020-05-12

TED


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

Translator: Josep Maria Agustí Reviewer: Anna Comas-Quinn
00:12
Hi, everyone, my name is Elizabeth,
0
12960
1849
Hola, em dic Elizabeth,
00:14
and I work on the trading floor.
1
14833
2373
i treballo a la Borsa
00:17
But I'm still pretty new to it.
2
17738
2754
però encara sóc bastant nova.
00:20
I graduated from college about a year and a half ago,
3
20516
3585
Em vaig graduar fa un any i mig
00:24
and to be quite honest,
4
24125
1548
i per ser sincera,
00:25
I'm still recovering from the recruiting process
5
25697
2738
encara m'estic recuperant del procés de selecció
00:28
I had to go through to get here.
6
28459
1674
per arribar fins aquí.
00:30
(Laughter)
7
30157
1778
(Rialles)
00:31
Now, I don't know about you,
8
31959
2348
Bé, no sé què en penseu,
00:34
but this is the most ridiculous thing
9
34331
3064
però la cosa més ridícula
00:37
that I still remember about the whole process,
10
37419
2157
que encara recordo de tot el procés,
00:39
was asking insecure college students what their biggest passion was.
11
39600
5078
era preguntar a estudiants insegurs, per la seva gran passió.
00:44
Like, do you expect me to have an answer for that?
12
44702
3696
Com haig de saber la resposta?
00:48
(Laughter)
13
48422
1232
(Rialles)
00:49
Of course I did.
14
49678
1349
Clar que vaig respondre.
00:51
And to be quite honest,
15
51051
1930
I per ser sincera,
00:53
I really showed those recruiters just how passionate I was
16
53005
3080
els vaig demostrar com m'apassionava
00:56
by telling them all about my early interest in the global economy,
17
56109
4318
quan els vaig explicar el meu interès en l'economia global,
01:00
which, conveniently, stemmed from the conversations
18
60451
3391
que, oportunament, em venia de les converses
01:03
that I would overhear my immigrant parents having
19
63866
2506
del meus pares immigrants quan parlaven
01:06
about money and the fluctuating value of the Mexican peso.
20
66396
3619
de diners, i de la cotització fluctuant del peso mexicà.
01:10
They love a good personal story.
21
70460
2134
Els agraden les històries personals.
01:13
But you know what?
22
73580
1333
Però, sabeu què?
01:14
I lied.
23
74937
1151
Vaig mentir.
01:16
(Laughter)
24
76112
1341
(Rialles)
01:17
And not because the things I said weren't true --
25
77477
2314
I no perquè el que vaig dir no fos cert;
01:19
I mean, my parents were talking about this stuff.
26
79815
2408
vull dir, que els pares realment en parlaven.
01:22
But that's not really why I decided to jump into finance.
27
82247
4495
Però allò de fet no era el motiu per voler treballar en les finances.
01:27
I just really wanted to pay my rent.
28
87552
2047
Només volia pagar el lloguer.
01:29
(Laughter)
29
89623
2857
(Rialles)
01:32
And here's the thing.
30
92504
1533
I aquesta és la qüestió.
01:34
The reality of having to pay my rent and do real adult things
31
94061
4953
Haver de pagar el lloguer i fer coses d'adults
01:39
is something that we're rarely willing to admit to employers,
32
99038
3024
és una cosa que no acostumem a confessar als nostres patrons,
01:42
to others and even to ourselves.
33
102086
2007
als altres ni a nosaltres mateixos.
01:44
I know I wasn't about to tell my recruiters
34
104442
2019
No anava pas a dir als entrevistadors
01:46
that I was there for the money.
35
106485
1846
que hi era pels diners.
01:48
And that's because for the most part,
36
108355
2159
I això és perquè, majoritàriament,
01:50
we want to see ourselves as idealists
37
110538
2261
ens volem veure com idealistes
01:52
and as people who do what they believe in
38
112823
1984
i com gent que fa allò en què creu
01:54
and pursue the things that they find the most exciting.
39
114831
3524
i empaiten allò que veuen com més engrescador.
01:58
But the reality is
40
118379
2535
Però en realitat
02:00
very few of us actually have the privilege to do that.
41
120938
3325
molt pocs de nosaltres tenim el privilegi de fer-ho.
02:04
Now, I can't speak for everyone,
42
124795
2190
No puc parlar per tothom,
02:07
but this is especially true for young immigrant professionals like me.
43
127009
4290
però això és cert per professionals immigrants i joves com jo.
02:11
And the reason this is true has something to do with the narratives
44
131323
3698
I el perquè té a veure amb els relats
02:15
that society has kept hitting us with
45
135045
1920
amb què la societat ens continua atacant
02:16
in the news, in the workplace
46
136989
1494
en les notícies, al treball,
02:18
and even by those annoyingly self-critical voices in our heads.
47
138507
3307
i fins i tot en aquestes veus autocrítiques al nostre interior.
02:22
So what narratives am I referring to?
48
142228
2170
A quins relats em refereixo?
02:24
Well, there's two that come to mind when it comes to immigrants.
49
144422
3127
N'hi ha dos que venen al cap quan parlem d'immigrants.
02:27
The first is the idea of the immigrant worker.
50
147573
2317
El primer és la idea del treballador immigrant.
02:29
You know, people that come to the US in search of jobs as laborers,
51
149914
3936
Ja sabeu, gent que arriba als USA buscant feina de jornalers,
02:33
or field workers, dish washers.
52
153874
2956
treballadors del camp, rentaplats...
02:36
You know, things that we might consider low-wage jobs
53
156854
2969
Ja sabeu, el que considerem feines mal pagades,
02:39
but the immigrants?
54
159847
1267
però, i pels immigrants?
02:41
That's a good opportunity.
55
161474
1733
Per a ells és una gran oportunitat.
02:44
The news nowadays has convoluted that whole thing quite a bit.
56
164165
3473
Actualment les notícies han canviat una mica tot això.
02:47
You could say that it's made America's relationship with immigrants complicated.
57
167662
4150
La relació d'Amèrica amb els immigrants s'ha complicat.
02:52
And as immigrant expert George Borjas would have put it,
58
172265
3391
Com diria l'expert en immigració George Borjas,
02:55
it's kind of like America wanted workers,
59
175680
2735
és com que Amèrica vol treballadors,
02:58
but then, they got confused when we got people instead.
60
178439
3161
però s'estranya quan hi arriben persones.
03:01
(Laughter)
61
181624
2453
(Rialles)
03:04
I mean, it's natural that people want to strive
62
184101
2294
És natural que la gent vulgui lluitar
03:06
to put a roof over their heads and live a normal life, right?
63
186419
2920
per tenir un lloc on viure i dur una vida normal, oi?
03:09
So for obvious reasons,
64
189363
2103
Per raons òbvies,
03:11
this narrative has been driving me a little bit crazy.
65
191490
3325
aquest relat em treu una mica de polleguera.
03:14
But it's not the only one.
66
194839
1734
Però no és l'únic.
03:17
The other narrative that I'm going to talk about
67
197014
2246
L'altre relat del que vull parlar
03:19
is the idea of the superimmigrant.
68
199284
2015
és la idea del superimmigrant.
03:21
In America, we love to idolize superimmigrants
69
201323
2722
A Amèrica, ens encanta idolatrar els superimmigrants
03:24
as the ideal symbols of American success.
70
204069
2821
com a símbols ideals de l'èxit americà.
03:27
I grew up admiring superimmigrants,
71
207536
2015
Vaig créixer admirant els superimmigrants
03:29
because their existence fueled my dreams and it gave me hope.
72
209575
4088
perquè ells em nodrien els somnis i em donaven esperança.
03:34
The problem with this narrative is that it also seems to cast a shadow
73
214234
3780
El problema amb aquest relat és que deixa malament
03:38
on those that don't succeed
74
218038
1460
els que no tenen èxit
03:39
or that don't make it in that way, as less than.
75
219522
2587
o no ho fan d'aquesta manera, com si fossin inferiors.
03:42
And for years, I got caught up in the ways
76
222561
2382
I durant anys vaig estar
03:44
in which it seemed to celebrate one type of immigrant
77
224967
2539
admirant un tipus d'immigrant
03:47
while villainizing the other.
78
227530
1936
i menystenint l'altre.
03:49
I mean, were my parents' sacrifices not enough?
79
229490
3563
No s'havien sacrificat prou, els meus pares?
03:53
Was the fact that my dad came home from the metal factory
80
233665
2966
Que el meu pare arribés a casa de la fàbrica
03:56
covered in corrosive dust,
81
236655
2029
cobert de pols corrosiva,
03:58
was that not super?
82
238708
1267
no era important?
04:01
Don't get me wrong,
83
241673
1158
No em malinterpreteu,
04:02
I've internalized both of these narratives to some degree,
84
242855
2778
d'alguna manera he interioritzat
04:05
and in many ways,
85
245657
1603
aquests dos relats.
04:07
seeing my heroes succeed, it has pushed me to do the same.
86
247284
3364
Veure els èxits dels meus herois, m'ha empès a imitar-los.
04:11
But both of these narratives are flawed in the ways
87
251284
2452
Però els dos relats tenen el defecte
04:13
in which they dehumanize people if they don't fit within a certain mold
88
253760
4111
que deshumanitzen qui no encaixa en un cert motlle
04:17
or succeed in a certain way.
89
257895
1866
o triomfa d'una certa manera.
04:20
And this really affected my self-image,
90
260605
3126
I això va afectar la meva autoestima,
04:23
because I started to question these ideas for who my parents were
91
263755
3477
començava a fer-me preguntes sobre els meus pares
04:27
and who I was,
92
267256
1151
i sobre mi mateixa,
04:28
and I started to wonder,
93
268431
2427
i em preguntava:
04:30
"Am I doing enough to protect my family and my community
94
270882
4027
"Faig prou per protegir la meva família i la meva comunitat
04:34
from the injustices that we felt every day?"
95
274933
2525
de les injustícies que patim cada dia?"
04:37
So why did I choose to "sell out"
96
277942
2730
Per què vaig decidir "rendir-me"
04:40
while watching tragedies unfold right in front of me?
97
280696
3167
quan al meu voltant veia tantes tragèdies?
04:44
Now, it took me a long time to come to terms with my decisions.
98
284546
4277
Vaig trigar a reconciliar-me amb les meves decisions.
04:48
And I really have to thank the people
99
288847
2468
I he d'agrair molt a la gent que porta
04:51
running the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, or HSF,
100
291339
2833
el Fons Hispànic de Beques, o FHB
04:54
for validating this process early on.
101
294196
2467
que legitimessin aquest procés.
04:57
And the way that HSF --
102
297157
1880
I la manera que el FHB
04:59
an organization that strives to help students achieve higher education
103
299061
3774
(una organització que ajuda els estudiants a completar
05:02
through mentorship and scholarships --
104
302859
2595
l'educació superior amb beques i tutories)
05:05
the way that they helped calm my anxiety,
105
305478
2103
la manera que em van ajudar a calmar-me,
05:07
it was by telling me something super familiar.
106
307605
2881
va ser dir-me una cosa molt coneguda.
05:10
Something that you all probably have heard before
107
310510
2377
Una cosa que segurament tots heu sentit algun cop
05:12
in the first few minutes after boarding a flight.
108
312911
2721
després de pujar a un avió:
05:16
In case of an emergency,
109
316268
1793
En cas d'emergència,
05:18
put your oxygen mask on first before helping those around you.
110
318085
3705
poseu-vos la màscara d'oxigen, abans d'ajudar als altres.
05:22
Now I understand that this means different things to different people.
111
322401
3397
Ja entenc que això significa coses diferents per gent diferent.
05:25
But for me, it meant that immigrants couldn't
112
325822
2401
Però per mi, volia dir que els immigrants no podien
05:28
and would never be able to fit into any one narrative,
113
328247
3012
i no podran encaixar mai en un sol relat,
05:31
because most of us are actually just traveling along a spectrum,
114
331283
3016
perquè la majoria anem recorrent tot un ventall,
05:34
trying to survive.
115
334323
1333
intentant sobreviure.
05:35
And although there may be people that are further along in life
116
335680
2992
I encara que hi hagi gent que han anat més endavant
05:38
with their oxygen mask on and secured in place,
117
338696
2421
amb la màscara d'oxigen ben posada,
05:41
there are undoubtedly going to be others
118
341141
1924
segur que n'hi ha d'altres
05:43
that are still struggling to put theirs on
119
343089
2052
que encara lluiten per posar-se-la
05:45
before they can even think about helping those around them.
120
345165
2951
abans que ni tan sols puguin pensar en ajudar els altres.
05:48
Now, this lesson really hit home for me,
121
348585
2249
Aquesta lliçó em va tocar de prop,
05:50
because my parents,
122
350858
2560
perquè els meus pares
05:53
while they wanted us to be able to take advantage of opportunities
123
353442
3160
volien que poguéssim aprofitar les oportunitats
05:56
in a way that we wouldn't have been able to do so anywhere else --
124
356626
3096
d'una manera que no podríem haver fet enlloc més,
05:59
I mean, we were in America,
125
359746
2062
vull dir, érem a Amèrica.
06:01
and so as a child, this made me have these crazy, ambitious
126
361832
4938
Així que, de nena, tenia aquests somnis ambiciosos
06:06
and elaborate dreams for what my future could look like.
127
366794
2992
i detallats de com podria ser el meu futur.
06:10
But the ways in which the world sees immigrants,
128
370414
2920
Però la manera que té la gent de veure els immigrants
06:13
it affects more than just the narratives in which they live.
129
373358
2941
no afecta només els relats en què viuen,
06:16
It also impacts the ways laws and systems can affect communities,
130
376323
4310
sinó també les lleis i sistemes que afecten les comunitats,
06:20
families and individuals.
131
380657
1666
les famílies i els individus.
06:22
I know this firsthand,
132
382927
1428
Ho sé de primera mà,
06:24
because these laws and systems, well, they broke up my family,
133
384379
3776
perquè aquests sistemes i lleis van separar la meva família
06:28
and they led my parents to return to Mexico.
134
388179
2508
i van fer que els meus pares se'n tornessin a Mèxic.
06:31
And at 15,
135
391560
1453
I amb 15 anys,
06:33
my eight-year-old brother and I,
136
393037
1531
amb el meu germà de vuit,
06:34
we found ourselves alone and without the guidance
137
394592
2763
ens vam trobar sols i sense l'orientació
06:37
that our parents had always provided us with.
138
397379
2568
que els pares sempre ens havien donat.
06:41
Despite being American citizens,
139
401300
2531
Malgrat ser ciutadans americans,
06:43
we both felt defeated
140
403855
1643
els dos ens sentíem vençuts
06:45
by what we had always known to be the land of opportunity.
141
405522
3166
pel que sempre havíem cregut que era el país de les oportunitats.
06:49
Now, in the weeks that followed my parents' return to Mexico,
142
409617
3786
En les setmanes després del retorn dels pares a Mèxic,
06:53
when it became clear that they wouldn't be able to come back,
143
413427
3587
quan es va veure que no podrien tornar,
06:57
I had to watch as my eight-year-old brother
144
417038
2277
Vaig haver de veure com treien de l'escola
06:59
was pulled out of school to be with his family.
145
419339
2536
el meu germà de vuit anys per estar amb la família.
07:02
And during this same time,
146
422573
1882
I durant aquells dies
07:04
I wondered if going back
147
424479
2571
vaig estar rumiant si tornar
07:07
would be validating my parents' sacrifices.
148
427074
3412
justificaria els sacrificis dels pares.
07:10
And so I somehow convinced my parents to let me stay,
149
430907
4354
I vaig convèncer els pares que em deixessin quedar
07:15
without being able to guarantee them that I'd find somewhere to live
150
435285
3801
sense poder-los garantir que trobaria un lloc per viure
07:19
or that I'd be OK.
151
439110
1395
o que estaria bé.
07:21
But to this day, I will never forget how hard it was
152
441380
3271
Però no oblidaré mai fins a quin punt va ser dur
07:24
having to say goodbye.
153
444675
1500
haver d'acomiadar-me.
07:26
And I will never forget how hard it was
154
446199
2309
I no oblidaré què dur va ser
07:28
watching my little brother crumble in their arms
155
448532
2785
veure el meu germanet arraulit en els seus braços
07:31
as I waved goodbye from the other side of steel grates.
156
451341
2853
mentre els deia adéu des de l'altra banda de la tanca.
07:36
Now, it would be naive to credit grit
157
456130
2689
Seria ingenu atribuir al valor
07:38
as the sole reason for why I've been able to take advantage
158
458843
2786
tot el mèrit del fet que hagi pogut aprofitar
07:41
of so many opportunities since that day.
159
461653
2667
tantes oportunitats des d'aleshores.
07:44
I mean, I was really lucky, and I want you to know that.
160
464741
2654
Vull dir, vaig tenir sort, i vull que ho sapigueu.
07:47
Because statistically speaking,
161
467419
1583
Perquè, segons les estadístiques,
07:49
students that are homeless or that have unstable living conditions,
162
469026
3273
els estudiants sense llar, o vivint en condicions inestables,
07:52
well, they rarely complete high school.
163
472323
2174
rarament acaben l'institut.
07:54
But I do think
164
474903
1190
Però sí que crec
07:56
that it was because my parents had the trust in letting me go
165
476117
3151
que va ser perquè els pares van confiar en mi
07:59
that I somehow found the courage and strength
166
479292
2111
que vaig trobar el valor i la força
08:01
to take on opportunities
167
481427
1436
per aprofitar les oportunitats
08:02
even when I felt unsure or unqualified.
168
482887
3222
fins i tot quan em sentia insegura o poc preparada.
08:08
Now, there's no denying that there is a cost
169
488021
3635
Però no es pot negar que viure el somni americà
08:11
to living the American dream.
170
491680
1933
té un cost.
08:14
You do not have to be
171
494101
2039
No cal que siguis
08:16
an immigrant or the child of immigrants to know that.
172
496164
2600
immigrant o fill d'immigrants per saber-ho.
08:19
But I do know that now, today,
173
499714
1937
Però sí que sé que ara mateix
08:21
I am living something close to what my parents saw
174
501675
2372
visc una cosa semblant al que els meus pares
08:24
as their American dream.
175
504071
1587
veien com el seu somni americà.
08:25
Because as soon as I graduated from college,
176
505682
2547
Perquè, tan bon punt com em vaig graduar,
08:28
I flew my younger brother to the United States to live with me,
177
508253
3626
vaig fer venir el meu germà perquè visqués amb mi,
08:31
so that he, too, could pursue his education.
178
511903
2903
i així també pogués continuar la seva educació.
08:35
Still, I knew that it would be hard flying my little brother back.
179
515458
3833
Sabia prou bé que seria difícil portar-lo.
08:39
I knew that it would be hard
180
519315
1389
Sabia que em costaria prou
08:40
having to balance the demands and professionalism
181
520728
2992
equilibrar les exigències i la professionalitat
08:43
required of an entry-level job
182
523744
2928
que et demanen en una feina nova
08:46
while being responsible for a child with dreams and ambitions of his own.
183
526696
4153
i alhora ser responsable d'un nen amb les seves pròpies ambicions.
08:51
But you can imagine how fun it is to be 24 years old,
184
531936
4270
Imagineu-vos com és de divertit amb 24 anys, en plena joventut,
08:56
at the peak of my youth, living in New York,
185
536230
2063
viure a Nova York, amb un company
08:58
with an angsty teenage roommate who hates doing the dishes.
186
538317
2795
adolescent i angoixat, que odia fregar els plats.
09:01
(Laughter)
187
541136
1634
(Rialles)
09:02
The worst.
188
542794
1158
És el pitjor de tot!
09:03
(Laughter)
189
543976
1222
(Rialles)
09:05
But when I see my brother learning how to advocate for himself,
190
545222
4032
Però quan veig el meu germà aprenent a ser autosuficient,
09:09
and when I see him get excited about his classes and school,
191
549278
3565
i quan el veig entusiasmat per l'escola i les classes,
09:12
I do not doubt anything.
192
552867
1523
no dubto gens ni mica.
09:14
Because I know that this bizarre,
193
554414
1945
Perquè sé que la meva vida actual,
09:16
beautiful and privileged life that I now live
194
556383
2579
estranya, bella i privilegiada,
09:18
is the true reason for why I decided to pursue a career
195
558986
3170
és el motiu autèntic de la meva decisió de seguir una carrera
09:22
that would help me and my family find financial stability.
196
562180
3254
que ens ajudés a trobar estabilitat financera.
09:26
I did not know it back then,
197
566887
2071
Aleshores no ho sabia,
09:28
but during those eight years that I lived without my family,
198
568982
3071
però en aquests vuit anys que he viscut lluny de la família
09:32
I had my oxygen mask on and I focused on survival.
199
572077
3270
portava la màscara d'oxigen i em centrava a sobreviure.
09:35
And during those same eight years,
200
575776
1682
I durant aquests vuit anys
09:37
I had to watch helplessly the pain and hurt
201
577482
2398
he hagut de veure sense poder fer res, el dolor
09:39
that it caused my family to be apart.
202
579904
2205
que la separació li causava a la família.
09:42
What airlines don't tell you is that putting your oxygen mask on first
203
582871
4151
El que no et diuen als avions és que posar-te la màscara d'oxigen
09:47
while seeing those around you struggle --
204
587046
2404
mentre els altres estan patint
09:49
it takes a lot of courage.
205
589474
1733
exigeix molt de valor.
09:51
But being able to have that self-control
206
591633
2047
Però tenir aquest autocontrol
09:53
is sometimes the only way that we are able to help those around us.
207
593704
4210
de vegades és l'única manera d'ajudar els que ens envolten.
09:58
Now I'm super lucky to be in a place where I can be there for my little brother
208
598934
4451
Tinc molta sort de poder ajudar el meu germà petit
10:03
so that he feels confident and prepared
209
603409
2032
a sentir-se amb confiança i preparat
10:05
to take on whatever he chooses to do next.
210
605465
2800
per emprendre el que decideixi.
10:09
But I also know
211
609720
2484
Però també sé
10:12
that because I am in this position of privilege,
212
612228
2762
que ja que estic en aquesta posició de privilegi,
10:15
I also have the responsibility
213
615014
1544
també tinc la responsabilitat
10:16
to make sure that my community finds spaces where they can find guidance,
214
616582
4933
de fer que la meva comunitat tingui llocs on trobar consell,
10:21
access and support.
215
621539
1603
accés i suport.
10:25
I can't claim to know where each and every one of you are
216
625174
2786
No puc pretendre saber on esteu cadascú de vosaltres
10:27
on your journey through life,
217
627984
2152
en el vostre viatge per la vida,
10:30
but I do know that our world is one
218
630160
2039
però sí que sé que el nostre món
10:32
that flourishes when different voices come together.
219
632223
2953
progressa quan s'ajunten veus diferents.
10:35
My hope is that you will find the courage
220
635739
2865
Desitjo que trobeu el valor
10:38
to put your oxygen mask on when you need to,
221
638628
3158
de posar-vos la màscara d'oxigen quan us cal,
10:41
and that you will find the strength
222
641810
1705
i que trobeu la força d'ajudar
10:43
to help those around you when you can.
223
643539
2191
els que us envolten quan pugueu.
10:46
Thank you.
224
646063
1151
Moltes gràcies.
10:47
(Applause)
225
647238
5000
(Aplaudiments)
About this website

This site will introduce you to YouTube videos that are useful for learning English. You will see English lessons taught by top-notch teachers from around the world. Double-click on the English subtitles displayed on each video page to play the video from there. The subtitles scroll in sync with the video playback. If you have any comments or requests, please contact us using this contact form.

https://forms.gle/WvT1wiN1qDtmnspy7