Artwork from @soni_artist on IG♥

It’s been some time since I last wrote a post here. Typically, my articles are inspired by the things happening around me, whether in the news, my personal life, or through my daily observations. My music career has taken my experience off the internet, hosting events like Cadence in the Clouds, and working with influential names like Dan Charnas and Robert Glasper. I’m very thankful for that. But truthfully, it has been hard for me to pinpoint one thing to write about when it feels like everything around me is a clusterfuck. The world truly feels like it’s on its last legs, between inflation, global warming, and an insane, inhumane dictatorship threatening rights every day. The rate at which we are expected to internalize the chaos is unreal, and I’ve had a lot of difficulty digesting everything. However, there is one matter that hits way too close to home for me to ignore, and it struck me head-on that this would be the subject matter not just for this article, but perhaps for one or two following as well.

Philadelphia was recently the hub for the No Kings Protest, where millions of people across America took to the streets to refute the greedy, selfish, cruel wrongdoings of our President. One of the issues that has been at the frontline of the anger and frustration felt everywhere is regarding immigration. America has prided itself on being recognized as the world’s melting pot, where people can bring their cultures with them in hopes of new and better opportunities, maintaining their roots and identities. And yet, every one of those people is at risk of being sent back to their country, regardless of the circumstances. My parents have been naturalized citizens for decades, which no longer has any merit. Although it feels especially unfair because they “came the right way (and please note, I would put an eyeroll emoji here if it was on brand for me to use emojis in my writing), my heart hurts the most for those who came to the US with asylum, seeking safety and refuge from their beloved homelands. While it is a legal form of immigration, the issue at hand no longer concerns legal immigration versus illegal immigration. Racists everywhere are letting their true colors show, making it known that they don’t want Brown or Black people entering their country, no matter the reason or method. Instead, it’s now a question of legal deportation versus illegal deportation. People are being barred from returning to the country on student and work visas, or are being sent away for exercising their right to free speech. There’s a reason why so many immigration cases are being escalated to the Supreme Court, and it’s because these cases have no legal grounds. Trump wants to “Make America Great Again,” and for many people, this slogan can also be seen as a subtle yet potent message: “Make America White Again.” For my first post on this matter, we are refuting that argument and fighting back. America cannot survive without its immigrants. America has no culture without the blend of its immigrants. None of us here has the right to this land. The original immigrants were as illegal as could be, and now it’s their descendants claiming that this country belongs to them more than anyone else. So today, we’re showing that if we want to Make America Amazing Again, to see it thrive and honor the true meaning of what it is to be The Land of the Free, we need to open our borders and celebrate our immigrants. And that’s what we’re going to do.