SHOWNOTES
One in four or 18 million children in the US have at least one parent who is an immigrant and while children of immigrants feature frequently in immigration policy debates in the U.S., the experiences and challenges of immigrant parents are rarely discussed. This episode's guest is Masha Rumer, a writer and journalist, whose new book is Parenting with an Accent: How immigrants honor their heritage, navigate setbacks, and chart new paths for their children. Masha's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Literary Hub, Parents, Scary Mommy, and others, winning awards from the New York Press Association. Her new book combines a personal story of her experiences as an immigrant from the former Soviet Union with solid research and analysis to explore how the changing face of immigrant America–whether it is skilled immigrants, refugees, and other newer immigrant groups–is embodied in the next generation.
Episode highlights:
With Masha's family spread across Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, she reflects on what it means to be Russian in the U.S. today and the current backlash against Russians. The long history of U.S. immigration where different groups--Chinese, Sikhs, Japanese and recently, Asian Americans--have come under attack at one time or another.
The challenges of explaining the complicated histories and politics of war-torn homelands to our children growing up in the U.S.
How becoming a parent is a reckoning for immigrants as they consider issues of identity, culture, and how to pass on their heritage to their children
The complexities of teaching a native language to second-generation immigrant children
Why education still remains "an immigrant's currency" and is a pathway to the American Dream
The current status of immigration issues in the U.S.: exploring the "melting pot" vs "salad bowl" metaphors
Masha's book: Parenting with an Accent
Follow Masha on Twitter and Instagram
Be sure to check out these other resources!
My book: America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility
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