There’s also this level of like, still identifying as being primarily of the country they’re from, like a rejection of assimilation into the place they’ve moved to. I’m not saying that’s inherently good or bad, but, it’s an interesting dynamic, and an option that a lot of immigrants don’t have.
Because these people think they are “better”. So when a wild barbaric immigrant shows up, they want that person to assimilate, but when they move among the unwashed lower folks, they don’t want to assimilate themselves, because it would be a step down in their eyes.
(I am talking about their view, which I very much despise, just as a clarification)
Wherever white people get mad at black people you hear the word “thug” thrown out a lot and i always wonder if they’re just using that word to substitute another one they’re not allowed to use publicly.
There is technically a difference in the definition, but mostly people use it exactly as you’re describing.
I’ve really had to catch myself when I notice myself using it.
But honestly it’s so expected that people can get confused when you call yourself an immigrant (and you aren’t doing it to make yourself a martyr somehow).
“Expat” is my favourite dog whistle. Because “migrant” is only used for brown people, or other undesirable minorities for racists.
I hate the word for the reasons you’ve said, but I know a lot of black Americans in Portugal that refer to themselves as expats.
Feels to me that the line is drawn along economic privilege lines rather than simply race.
There’s also this level of like, still identifying as being primarily of the country they’re from, like a rejection of assimilation into the place they’ve moved to. I’m not saying that’s inherently good or bad, but, it’s an interesting dynamic, and an option that a lot of immigrants don’t have.
Especially when a lot of the same type of people will throw a fit if an ‘immigrant’ doesn’t do everything they can to assimilate.
Because these people think they are “better”. So when a wild barbaric immigrant shows up, they want that person to assimilate, but when they move among the unwashed lower folks, they don’t want to assimilate themselves, because it would be a step down in their eyes.
(I am talking about their view, which I very much despise, just as a clarification)
“No war but the class war” strikes again
Wherever white people get mad at black people you hear the word “thug” thrown out a lot and i always wonder if they’re just using that word to substitute another one they’re not allowed to use publicly.
For us latinos it’s immigrant.
There is technically a difference in the definition, but mostly people use it exactly as you’re describing.
I’ve really had to catch myself when I notice myself using it.
But honestly it’s so expected that people can get confused when you call yourself an immigrant (and you aren’t doing it to make yourself a martyr somehow).