“If you work hard, people will notice and you will be recognized.” Parts of that tale are true — at least for me as a young person with class privilege and access to wealth. Every week, I churn in a few dozen hours, and twice a month, a paycheck is deposited into my checking account. It’s a process that recognizes my
But there’s a gap that often goes unacknowledged in that saying. One you can find if you ask, “what is
Growing up, my parents worked. A lot. As recent immigrants in the U.S., they wanted to succeed in this new home. Despite their busyness, they still took care of my brother and
On May Day, I strike for them and for the millions of others like them who, because of their immigration status, gender identity, and ability, are not recognized fairly for their work and contributions. I am who I am, and my family is in the financial position that we’re in, because of them.
—
Dominique Tan is a member of RG and RG’s Campaign Team. She was an RG chapter leader in the Bay Area before recently relocating to NYC.