Synopsis: "In 2011, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas outed himself as an undocumented immigrant in an essay published in the New York Times Magazine. Documented chronicles his journey to America from the Philippines as a child; his journey through America as an immigration reform activist; and his journey inward as he re-connects with his mother, whom he hasn't seen in person in over 20 years. (Source: https://documentedthefilm.com/about)"
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What we learned:
- Immigration is an intersectional issue. The stereotypical issues show family immigrating from Mexico into the US and working blue-collar jobs below minimum wage; however, this is most definitely not the only case. The film followed a story of an LGBTQ+ Filipino man who worked a high-status reporting job. This is one of the many examples of the intersectional immigrant stories that exist in the US today. Reframing the narrative is crucial to making progress. People are not to be labeled as "legal" or "illegal" - they are humans.
- We discussed the fact that there is a wide spectrum of knowledge and understanding regarding issues of immigration in this country based on the media and information we are exposed to. This was evidenced in the film through several conversations Jose had with those around him in various settings, including a political rally and a restaurant outing with a friend.
- Curriculum at school from a young age is imperative to change this narrative. Teaching children at a young age how to be empathetic to others rather than fearing the stories they may not be able to relate to or understand will lead to a new generation of people with a greater passion for reform. These can be small changes, but we believe they may be effective in the long term. Examples we discussed were ensuring diverse characters were represented in children's books present in schools as well as advocating for curriculum changes at PTO meetings.
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Actionable items:
- Jose-Antonio Vargas, the director and star of the film, started a movement called Define American. Check out this website to gain a better understanding of the many, multifaceted immigrant stories presented.
- Work to help undocumented immigrants throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit these communities harder than most. Check out this website for ways to be involved.
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