The Chaldean Experience

Exploring systemic discrimination, bias, and racism

By N. Peter Antone

Every time I hear or read about systemic discrimination, bias, or racism supposedly targeted towards immigrants, Hispanics, and minorities, I cannot help but think of our Chaldean experience and whether it also reflects such faults in our society. Many early Chaldeans came to this country as farmers from a part of the world little known or regarded here, with no money and with little understanding of English. Yet, with hard work and strong family values, our community, within one generation, has become flush with professionals of all categories, including engineers, teachers, pharmacists, lawyers, doctors, and many others. Additionally, we have numerous successful small businesses that now are venturing into big business arenas.
My own personal experience is no different. When I arrived in this country three decades ago, I needed to borrow the airline ticket cost, and my first job paid slightly above minimum wage - a rather humble start. Throughout the decades that I have been here, however, I have worked mostly with what might be called the privileged class of white people, from whom I have received mostly encouragement and help. This does not mean all individuals I encountered were perfect, as I had my share of meetings with those who held negative attitudes towards immigrants. Still, the good people I have met far outnumber the bad.
To be clear, the American society, like any other society, has its good and bad history. What distinguishes us is our willingness to explore our past and to learn from it. For example, slavery is a stigma and dark side to our history, but let’s not forget that this institution existed in one form or another throughout history in many other societies. Yet, unlike elsewhere, we do not hide it under the rug. Rather, we teach our kids about it and try to learn from it, so that we can be better.
However, we should also teach our kids about the good side of our history and the progress we made. As further example, as we discuss with our kids the shortcomings of our founding fathers, some of whom owned slaves, let’s not forget that those same men also created the first man-made constitution that led the way for many in our world towards a present of freedom and liberty. Let’s not judge those men solely by the standards of today, but let’s recall that despite all their serious shortcomings, they left the world a better place than they found it, and that is not a small feat.
The main problem I see with some of today’s negative arguments is their effect on the young generation. If you tell young children that there is systemic discrimination, bias, or racism stacked against them and that they will need to struggle against white privilege, you create the negative attitude of skepticism and a lack of trust, both in institutions and in possibilities. Such negative attitude would, in the future, hurt those very same young children you are trying to help. If, on the other hand, you tell young children that the sky is the limit and that opportunities exist everywhere, you create a positive attitude that will help those kids achieve the dreams they have despite many of the shortcomings that still exist in our society.
In summary, we need to tell our kids the history of this country objectively and accurately. But we also need to tell them about the positive things and progress that has happened. We need to tell them that with the right attitude and with hard work, this country offers unlimited opportunities. For proof, just look at our Chaldean community.