Destination America: An Immigration Experience
Destination America: An Immigration Experience
Steve Kohrherr
Pre-Show Lobby
The audience assembles in the lobby. The auditorium doors are closed. The Head Immigration Official comes out to the lobby. Using gibberish and hand motions, he divides the group in half pointing them towards the appropriate door each group will enter through. The audience is “Arriving Immigrants”. When done, he blows his whistle three times and the theater doors open. Other Immigration Officials appear with programs of the performance. The programs also have a name of the country each audience member (arriving immigrant) is coming from and some facts about when, how and why people from that country came to America.
Pre-Show – Theater
As the audience enters, the Head Immigration Official continues to speak gibberish as he interacts with the audience, helping them find their seats. He also continues to them instructions and directions which they don’t understand.
Once the audience is seated, the Head Official comes to the front. He blows his whistle and raises his hand, signaling the audience to get quiet. Once they are quiet, he begins, talking very loudly and slowly, thinking this way he will be understood.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
Thank you for getting quiet. During the course of this program, you may see things which seem bizarre, strange, or are just plain funny. You may even find yourself laughing out loud. That’s great. We like laughter. But in order to process you as quickly as possible, there may be times when we need for you to get quiet. So, whenever you see anyone on stage raise their hand like this (he does so) it is time to get quiet. Let’s give this a try. Everyone, laugh! (The audience laughs. When the Head Official holds up his hand and the audience get quiet) Good. You just passed your first test here in America. I want to remind you to “Please remain seated and wait. You will be processed soon.
He exits through the back of the audience. The audience might be confused. During this time the Head Immigration Official is changing into the Immigrant. When he is ready, he enters through the back of the audience and speaks as he makes his way on stage.
IMMIGRANT
I heard! (he shouts, grabbing the audience’s attention, then he continues) I heard a great cry of voices above me on the steerage deck. There was a rush of people, all different kinds of people, trying to make their way up the stairs. So, I joined them. (he climbs up on the stage) On the deck there was much confusion. Some people were singing and dancing. Others were crying and hugging each other. A few were kneeling and giving thanks. Yet, I could not see what was causing so great a commotion, so I climbed up on the ships railing. And that’s when I saw her. Lady Liberty. Standing golden in the sun. Her torch raised like a beacon, as if to guide us safely into harbor. A man next to me spoke at loud saying “Here is the beautiful woman I have waited all my life to see. Then he gave me a big hug and jumped down to join the dancing. But I . . . I just stood there. After 18 days of crossing an ocean, she was my beautiful woman as well. My beacon of a new beginning. My first glimpse of the Promise Land called America.
The Immigrant changes into the Narrator as the lights go dim. We here solemn music as a woman VO reads The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. Onstage we see projected images of arriving immigrants. Some are black white photos from long ago, some are from recent times. This is a Ken Burns style moment.
Woman VO
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
The Narrator comes forward to address the audience.
NARRATOR
Welcome to America!
I am an American. Actually, I am an Irish German American. My Irish ancestors came to America in 1848, during the Great Potato Famine in Ireland and my German ancestors came here in 1903. They were immigrants – people who left, or were forced to leave, their home countries to come live here in the United States of America.
They come from all parts of the world: Korea, China, Japan, India, Russia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Turkey, Syria, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Germany, France, England, Ireland, Canada, Mexico. . . Well you get the idea.
In a sense, everyone here in this room – here living in America, isthe descendant of immigrants. Even the Native Americans came to America by crossing a land bridge from Asia on the Bering Strait about 20,000 years ago.
But people came to America, this Land of Opportunity, for different reasons. Some, like the English, Dutch, and Native Americans, chose to come here, attracted by the abundance of natural resources and the rich fertile land. Others, like many Africans, were enslaved and forced to come here to work the land. And still others, like the Jewish people of the Holocaust, Ethiopians, or Syrians, had to flee their home countries due to religious persecution, economic hardship, and the horrors of war.
Yet most all immigrants hoped to find a safe haven, here in America. They dreamed of a better life here in America.
And when she was unveiled on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty immediately became the symbol of this dream. The symbol of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The beacon of freedom.
And this dream was so strong in many immigrants that they were willing to endure immense hardships and dangerous, sometimes disastrous sea voyages.
We hear a woman singing a beautiful Polish/Yiddish folk song. The Narrator changes to Peter and speaks. The song continues in the background throughout his speech.
PETER
My grandmother (he takes off his hat). My Grandmother always stood when she sang. It was the only way she would sing. She would say to me, “Peter, when you sing you must stand straight and proud.” Oh, she had a beautiful voice.
She told me the story of when she first came to America, in 1910. My grandfather had come over here from Poland in 1908. He worked for 2 years as a tailor and when he had saved enough money, he sent for my grandmother to come to America. So, she packed her one suitcase filled with her most valued possessions, sold or gave away the rest of what they owned, said goodbye to family and friends, and she came.
My grandmother (in awe and disbelief), who had never left her small village in her life, was now not only going to the big city of Hamburg, Germany; but she was going to get on a boat, cross an ocean and come to America.
She said when she got to Hamburg, she was packed into the steerage section of a ship along with a thousand other immigrants. There was hardly any room to move let alone find a place to lay down and sleep. So, my grandmother found a small spot for her suitcase and she slept sitting on it. It was a difficult, 16-day voyage.
She told me that the only way she kept her mind off of the hardships of this journey was to sing songs from her village, her home in Poland.
Now most of other immigrants, they didn’t know her language. But they would listen to her and encourage her to sing some more. They couldn’t communicate with each other; but, I guess the music did that for them. In this way, my grandmother survived the journey and arrived at Ellis Island in New York Harbor on April 8th, 1910.
Peter changes back to the Narrator and cross to center stage.
NARRATOR
If the Statue of Liberty was the symbol of the immigrant’s dream of America, then Ellis Island was certainly the symbol for the immigrant’s reality once they arrived here.
Located right next to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island was the first stop for many immigrants. It was their first home in America and, for most, their last chance.
The Narrator changes into the Head Immigration Official as he continues.
NARRATOR
From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island processed three fourths of all the immigrants entering America. Over 12 million people.
It was here that the immigrants were checked for medical disease and tested for mental illness. If they had any disease, they were separated from the group and detained.
Being detained meant the possibility of being deported, of being sent back to their home countries.
Only 2% of the immigrants were actually deported. Yet the fear of being deported was in all of them. This is why Ellis Island was called the Isle of Hope, the Isle of Tears.
The Narrator is now the Head Immigration Official and blows his whistle.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
When I select you, please come to the front to be processed.
The Head Immigration Official goes into the audience and gathers 6 volunteers (4 students, 2 teachers). He brings them to the front, gives them one simple costume piece to wear and lines them up in front of the audience.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
Line up!
When they are assembled, The Head Immigration Official comes up on stage.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
Between 1900 -1920, more than 6,000 immigrants were processed a day on Ellis Island. 10 hours a day, 7 days a week.
He then brings the volunteers on stage and lines them up once more.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
Come up here! Line up. Face the front. Good.
The Head Immigration Official changes into the Doctor as he speaks.
NARRATOR
The Immigrants were first taken into a room for a medical examination. This was a big open room. Sometimes it was very cold. When the Doctor arrived the first thing he told the immigrant to do was. . .
DOCTOR
Remove all of your clothing!
The Volunteers are embarrassed.
DOCTOR
That’s good!
We examined each immigrant to see if they had any contagious diseases. In particular Trachoma, which is a contagious eye disease. Trachoma was the # 1 cause for deportation.
He examines the 6 volunteers and chooses 3 to be Quarantined and separates them from the group.
DOCTOR
Oh my! If you had any questionable symptoms, you were separated from the group.
He points the 3 volunteers to take a seat in the Quarantine section of the audience (2 students and 1 teacher).
DOCTOR
Families were often separated. Husbands from their wives, children from their parents. There was a lot crying.
After the exam, the immigrants were then doused with powder to prevent lice.
He powders each remaining immigrant on the head.
DOCTOR
Then they were told to get dressed. Get dressed! (That was quick).
And they were taken to the Registry Room, where they were once more told to wait.
Follow me and wait here. Good!
He leads the remaining volunteers to one side of the stage. Once they are lined up, the Doctor readies the stage for the following tests. When all is ready.
DOCTOR
As well as separating the sick from the healthy, tests were given to check for mental illness. If you acted silly or stupid, or even if you (he looks at the remaining volunteers) looked different, this was cause enough for you to be pull from the group and tested.
He chooses 1 to be tested by putting a puzzle.
DOCTOR
You come here. Put this puzzle together. Do you understand? Put this puzzle together! Begin.
The volunteer begins. The Doctor goes to the second immigrant volunteer.
DOCTOR
You answer this question. “How many feet does a horse have?” Good.
To third immigrant volunteer.
DOCTOR
You count backwards from 20. Faster, louder, faster, louder. Good.
He goes back to the first volunteer.
DOCTOR
Now let’s see how you have done with the puzzle.
This immigrant has failed the test.
DOCTOR
Just 2 pieces of the puzzle! If you failed the test, you were detained for further testing.
The immigrant is sent to the Detaining section of the audience.
DOCTOR
Immigrants were also given literacy tests to see if they could read.
The Doctor gives one of the remaining two immigrants (a student) a card to read out loud.
DOCTOR
Read this.
IMMIGRANT #1
(reading from the card) The cat runs very fast.
DOCTOR
Very good. (to Immigrant #2) Now you, read this.
He gives the other volunteer (teacher) a card to read.
IMMIGRANT #2
(reading from the card) Blunk der fert nerf whizzle.
The adult/teacher fails and is sent to the Detaining section of the audience. The Doctor changes to Head Immigration Official.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
The purpose of these tests was to look for LPC’s. Those immigrants who were Likely to become Public Charges, a burden on American society.
Once you passed these tests, you had to wait some more until you were called for a final interview.
He brings the remaining volunteer to the table to be interviewed. The Official gives the volunteer a card which has the responses for the following questions.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
Name? Ruth/Peter Taruetsant
The volunteer responds and the Official changes his name as he writes it.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
Ruth Tarue/ Peter Tarue. (to the audience) We officials didn’t intentionally change names, we wrote down what we heard. We had a lot to do.
(to Volunteer) What country? France
How much money do you have? 2 American dollars
Destination? America, Oh New York City
Are you traveling alone? Yes
Have you any children? No
Have you ever been arrested? No
Are you an anarchist? What?
An anarchist, someone who does not believe in the government? No
Good. Well, all your paper work seems to be in order. (He stamps volunteer’s paper. A lot of stamping) Mrs./Mr. Tarue, welcome to America.
He encourages audience applause.
HEAD IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL
Now if you would follow those stairs down to the next level. Someone will assist you in finding your luggage.
The volunteer goes to a seat in the front row. The Official changes to become the Narrator, then becomes the Immigrant.
NARRATOR
Some people spent weeks, even months on Ellis Island until they were finally let into America or sent back home.
Yet many immigrants, even the terrifying experience of Ellis Island could not extinguish their dream for a better life in America. But they would soon face other challenges once they finally let in.
He becomes the Immigrant.
IMMIGRANT
We live in a one room apartment on the Lower East Side of New York City. Six of us live there: Mama, myself, our three children, and now our cousin Saul, lives with us. We all must work. Even Moshe, who is only 8 years old, works with me at the factory. And still we barely have enough to live on.
Ugh. Our apartment is too small. During the summer it is so hot, we move our beds onto the fire escape to sleep. In the winter, it is very cold and all we have is our small stove to keep us warm, that is if we have money to buy coal.
The Immigrant becomes the Narrator.
NARRATOR
Immigrants often lived in rundown tenement houses in the poorer sections of America’s cities. And it’s here that they formed their own communities like Spanish Harlem and Little Italy in New York City, Chinatown in San Francisco, and Greektown in Chicago. The immigrants found comfort in being surrounded by the food, the language, and the music of their home countries.
But the immigrants also wanted to embrace America and take part in all she had to offer. To fit in. This was called Americanization.
He becomes the Americanization Officer and holds a sign with the following phrases.
AMERICANIZATION OFFICER
Now all of you repeat after me. Uh, uh! In English:
I work. (audience repeats)
You work. (audience repeats)
He works. (audience repeats)
She works. (audience repeats)
We work. (audience repeats)
They work. (audience repeats)
Everybody works. (audience repeats)
Good.
He becomes the Narrator.
NARRATOR
Yes. Everybody works. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing at this time. America was growing in leaps and bounds. And industrial factory owners were more than happy to hire immigrant workers. Why? Because they would work longer hours for a lot less money. But other Americans were not as happy about this flood of immigration.
He becomes the Angry Laborer carrying a sign with “No” printed on one side and “Yes” printed on the other.
ANGRY LABORER
Are we going to let these greenhorns take our jobs? (NO) Are we going to allow them to keep us honest Americans from earning a decent day’s wage? (NO) And take food from the mouths of our children? (NO)
Isn’t it our right, as natural born citizens of the United States of America, to tell the government to put a stop to this flood of immigration (YES), to protect our jobs (YES), to protect our children from their diseases (YES), and to send them back where they came from. (YES)
He becomes the Narrator.
NARRATOR
I wish I could have reminded these Americans that we are all descendants of immigrants.
He becomes the Immigrant Son.
IMMIGRANT SON
My papa, my papa worked 80 hours a week in a back-breaking job, just to make ten dollars. Ten dollars! I asked once” Papa, why do you work so hard?” He sat me down and said:
“My son, look at my hands. They are the hands of an Italian immigrant Your mama’s hands are the hands of an Italian immigrant. It is the hands of the immigrants which are helping to build America. Chinese and Irish hands are building American bridges and railroads. Polish and Rumanian hands are shaping American skylines. African, Mexican and German hands are growing American food. Jewish and Italian hands are weaving American cloth. America is being built by the hands of immigrants.
But you ask why do I work so hard? My son, I work for you. Your mother, she is an Italian immigrant. Me? I am an Italian immigrant. But you, my son, you are now an American! You are our dream for a better life. And that is why I work so hard!
He becomes the Narrator.
NARRATOR
And as the immigrants became more Americanized, America became more “Immigrantized”. Just as immigrant workers were building and shaping America; so too their customs, their foods, and their styles of entertainment were now shaping American culture.
A great example of this is a popular style of entertainment which begin in the late 1890’s. Soon it was being performed in cities all across America. It was called Vaudeville.
We hear Scott Joplin music, The Entertainer, as the Narrator changes into the Vaudeville Comedian.
VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN
Yowsa, Yowsa, Ladies and Gentlemen. That was the Entertainer himself – Mr. Scott Joplin. And the music and entertainment never stops here at the Palace Theater. Speaking of music.
What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft? A flat minor.
What does Austrian composer Mozart do now that he is dead? He decomposes.
Why do they put bells on cows? Because their horns don’t work!
I’ve gotta a million of ‘em, folks. But I can tell you don’t want to hear them right now. So on with the show. And what a show we have for you. We’ve got the Italian singer Rudolf Valentino here and Lillian Russell the famous English balladeer. And let me tell you folks, she certainly is a dear. But first here’s something to tickle the ol’ funny bone. A humorous Yiddish skit called “Giving Thanks”. And in the tradition of the Palace Theater, I’ll need some audience volunteers to help me out here on stage.
He picks 9 volunteers (4 male students, 3 female students, 1 male teacher, 1 female teacher) to help him out and brings them on stage.
VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN
Before we begin, let’s hear the names of our brave victims, uh, I mean, volunteers.
The volunteers say their names.
VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN
Let’s give them a big round of applause.
First thing I got to do is rearrange the order that you’re in.
He rearranges them so that they are in the following order left to right. Male student, female student, female teacher on stage right. Female student, male student, female student, male student, male teacher, male student stage left.
VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN
Now we can’t let participate in this skit looking like that, not that you look so bad; but we do have some costumes for you to wear. Which is what I am going to give you. I’m also going to give you a card which tells you the character you will be playing, the costume you will wear, and the one line you will always say should anyone talk to you. Understand.
He sends the 6 volunteers off stage left with their costumes and cards. He then addresses the remain 3 volunteers.
VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN
Of course, I haven’t forgotten you. We have costumes for you to wear as well. You will be with me on this side of the stage.
He gives them their costumes and asks them to go put them on in the stage right wings. Then he addresses the audience.
VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN
Yowsa folks, we’re really going to have some fun. Let’s give these volunteers a big round of applause to cheer them on.
We hear Yiddish Klezmer music as he goes off stage right. Right after that a volunteer comes out, stage right, with a sign “Giving Thanks”. The volunteer crosses the stage, showing the sign, and comes back stage right. Then the Narrator enters dressed as Katerina, a mellow-dramatic immigrant mother, as the music fades.
KATERINA
Oh! I am a poor immigrant mother. And these are my poor children. Gertrude, Gomez, and my youngest little Gittle. (to Gittle, female teacher) Cochie-goo!
Katerina introduces her 3 children from stage right.
KATERINA
Yet, it is Thanksgiving Day. And, because my husband has not been able to find work we have no money and no food. Oh, listen to my children cry from hunger.
The children whimper. She encourages them further.
KATERINA
I said, Listen to them CRY from hunger.
They now wail.
KATERINA
Don’t cry children. I have given your father our last family heirloom. A necklace given to me by my Grandmother. Perhaps he has been able to sell it and get us food. Wait. I think I hear your father now.
She goes stage left and brings on her Husband (female student). He enters with a basket of food.
KATERINA
Oh, my husband, you sold the necklace. Children look! Now we have food. Come gather around the table and let us see what your father has brought us.
Out of the basket she brings bread, a cooked pheasant, and vegetables out of the basket and puts them on the table.
KATERINA
Bananas, grapes, bread. . . Oh, and you got a cooked pheasant because you know that our stove is broken, and we cannot cook. You are so smart. Husband give us a kiss.
HUSBAND
No.
KATERINA
Hmmm! Well come children let us gather around the table so we can eat. But first we must bow our heads to give thanks.
They bow their heads. Before they can offer thanks, there is a knock at the door.
KATERINA
Husband, was that a knock at the door?
HUSBAND
No.
KATERINA
I am sure it was. Husband, who could that be?
He doesn’t know, and she goes to the door and brings on Paddy O’Grady – the Irish neighbor.
KATERINA
Husband, it is Paddy O’Grady, our Irish neighbor. How are you today, Paddy?
PADDY O’GRADY
I’m hungry!
KATERINA
Husband let us invite him to dinner.
HUSBAND
No!
KATERINA
Husband! Paddy has worked hard to build the bridges in this city. Now he is out of work. We must share what we have and that is final.
She crosses back to Paddy O’Grady.
KATERINA
Come, Paddy. We were just about to have our Thanksgiving meal. Won’t you join us?
She nods her head encouraging Paddy to agree, and Katerina brings him to the table.
KATERINA
Now let us bow our heads to give thanks.
Before they can, there is another knock at the door.
KATERINA
Husband, was that another knock at the door?
HUSBAND
No.
KATERINA
Husband, I am sure it was. Who could that be?
She goes and brings in Sarah Thompson.
KATERINA
Husband, it is Sarah Thompson, our African neighbor. How are you today?
SARAH THOMPSON
I’m hungry!
KATERINA
Husband let us invite her to dinner.
HUSBAND
No!
KATERINA
Husband! Sarah has worked hard at a textile factory and sent all of her money home to her family. Now she lost her job and has no food. We must share what we have and that is final!
She crosses back to Sarah Thompson.
KATERINA
Come, Sarah. We were just about to have our Thanksgiving meal. Won’t you join us?
Sarah agrees, and Katerina brings her to the table.
KATERINA
Now let us bow our heads to give thanks.
Before they can, there is yet another knock at the door.
KATERINA
Husband, who could that be?
She goes to the door and brings on Jing Lee – the Chinese neighbor, Juanita Gonzalez – the Mexican neighbor (male teacher), and John Preston – the Pilgrim neighbor.
KATERINA
Husband, it is Jing Lee, our Chinese neighbor, Juanita Gonzalez, our Mexican neighbor and John Preston who is … a pilgrim. How are you all today?
JING LEE, JUANITA GONZALEZ, JOHN PRESTON
We are hungry.
KATERINA
Husband let us invite them to dinner.
HUSBAND
No!
KATERINA
Husband! Jing Lee has worked hard at building the railroads of our nation, Juanita Gonzalez has helped grow food for our nation, and John Preston is. . . (she is confused) well he’s a Pilgrim, (then she thinks quickly) who helped to first settle this nation and open the way for other immigrants to follow. Now they are all out of work and hungry. We must share what we have with them and that is final!
She crosses back to Jing Lee, Juanita Gonzalez, and John Preston.
KATERINA
Come. We were just about to have our Thanksgiving meal. Won’t you join us?
JING LEE, JUANITA GONZALEZ, JOHN PRESTON
We are hungry.
They agree, and Katerina brings them to the table.
KATERINA
Now let us bow our heads to give thanks.
They bow their heads in silence. As they do, Katerina steps forward and addresses the audience.
KATERINA
And so, we all had a good meal. We laughed, sang songs, told stories. And Juanita even did a little dance for us. (she encourages the male teacher to dance). It was a wonderful time.
And you know, very soon after that, good fortune seemed to smile upon every one of us.
She brings each person downstage as she talks about them.
KATERINA
Paddy O’Grady found work as a welder. And one day, he borrowed some tools from work, came here and fixed our stove. Thank you, Paddy.
Jing Lee found work as a coal deliverer. And every so often he brings us coal to burn in our stove, so we can cook, and my children will be warm. Thank you, Jing Lee.
John Preston, (still slightly confused) the pilgrim, uh, got a job at the market selling fresh vegetables and he brings us the freshest vegetables you have ever tasted. Thank you, John.
And he also got my Husband a job there as well. Husband, thank him.
HUSBAND
No!
KATERINA
Husband! (she makes him thank John). Now give us a kiss.
HUSBAND
No!
KATERINA
Hmmmm!
Oh, and Sarah Thompson got her job back at the textile factory and soon after brought me a new, fancy cloth for our table. Thank you, Sarah.
And Juanita Gonzalez started her own laundry service and hired me to work part time with her. Thank you, Juanita.
This means I am able to work and make money while still raising my 3, darling children. Gertrude, Gomez, and little Gittle. (to Gittle, female teacher) Cochie-goo!
And now every year, every Thanksgiving Day, we all come together to share food, laugh and sing. Juanita still does that beautiful dance. (once more she encourages the male teacher to dance). But most importantly, we gather to give thanks for our good fortune we found here in America.
The End.
They all bow.
KATERINA
Let’s have a big round of applause for our great volunteers.
Bows and applause. Volunteers remove their costumes and go to their seats in the front row. Katerina also changes back to the Narrator. He steps forward.
NARRATOR
People went to Vaudeville shows not only to see man dressed up as women. They came to see unique acts from diverse immigrant cultures. There were Chinese contortionists, Indian magicians, Italian operettas, and Yiddish plays. Vaudeville had to represent these cultures because the majority of its audience were immigrants or children of immigrants. So, it made sense that Vaudeville would offer entertainment to please them.
NARRATOR
These immigrant cultures also blended with American culture in other areas as well.
In music, jazz and blues were created by African Americans. Now a days there’s Rap and Hip Hop music. Carlos Santana, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez have helped bring Latino music into the American mainstream.
And let’s talk about food. . .
How many of you like to eat tacos and burritos? Si, that’s Mexican.
And Pizza? Now that’s Italian.
Then there’s Chinese take-out, Greek salad and German Chocolate Cake for dessert. I’m getting hungry.
Immigrant religions, traditions, and customs are the core of our diverse, multicultural American society. And every day more immigrants come to America.
We should do our best welcome these immigrants. Because most simply dream of a better life. Just like our ancestors did so many years ago.
The Narrator changes back to the Immigrant comes to the center. We hear the same music that was playing during The New Colossus poem
IMMIGRANT
We risked everything we had to come to here, to America. We worked hard and suffered much. And we hoped for a better life. Not just for ourselves but, more importantly, for our children. That is you. Young people living here in America.
Oh, America is still the Land of Opportunity. The land of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
But she is also still struggling to protect the rights of all Americans regardless of race, gender, religion, or color.
This, well this is the work we all must do.
Your hands are the hands of Americans, but, remember that in your heart still flows the blood of the immigrant. Remember this! And work hard so that everyone of us here in this room, here living in this nation, will always be proud to call themselves an American.
The End.