Assimilation Is Colonization | Nga Vương-Sandoval | TEDxCherryCreekWomen

Assimilation eradicates one’s identity, culture, and heritage. The detrimental and enduring effects of colonizing another person’s culture, heritage, and identity are real. Let’s rethink the concepts of identity, assimilation, refugees, immigrants, acculturation, multiculturalism, and colonization. It’s imperative to decolonize assimilation and instead welcome and celebrate the cultural uniqueness of others. Nga Vương-Sandoval is a fierce and passionate social justice advocate for the refugee and immigrant communities by amplifying these voices through education, advocacy, storytelling, and lobbying.
She and her family were forced to flee their homeland Việt Nam, became known as “boat people,” were displaced on refugee camps, and ultimately were resettled in the U.S.
Nga amplifies the voices and issues for refugees and immigrants by serving as the Refugee Congress Delegate for Colorado. She’s a founding member and public speaker with Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau. She lends her refugee experience and insight by serving as the first refugee elected to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Board of Directors. She serves as a Noble Ambassador for Christina Noble Children’s Foundation that serves vulnerable children and families in Việt Nam and Mongolia. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@khinememekyaw9471]

I would be grateful if I were you! Americans saved and accepted you; you and your family might not be alive without their help.

[@jamievoros4932]

Thank you for such a powerful talk and starting a conversation on what it means to be a refugee.

[@jamieflecknoe5115]

Beautifully done!! Thank you for teaching me about the true struggles people face as they leave behind their country and culture and ways in which I can support refugees.

[@berzurker]

The irony that China regularly forces assimilation(with literal concentration camps) on huge swaths of their population, whereas here in the West, the dominant culture just exists and allows everyone to participate. China also restricts travel based on where you fall on their cultural matrix. Perhaps, direct your criticisms toward East Asian countries to aggressively oppress minorities, instead of looking for oppression in the county that has welcomed you with open arms. You're not required to assimilate here in the West. If you choose to become an American and embrace our culture, great. . . if not, that is fine also.

[@JulieBall-dg2ci]

The warmongering media tells you that about China, but 'Uyghur oppression' is lie. Go to Xinjiang yourself. But you're right about her criticizing the US. She's a globalist. The Chinese are nationalists and so are the majority of Americans and that is human nature. Humans are tribal, period. If you want to join some else's tribe, then assimilate unless your intention is to destroy the host tribe.. A house divided does not stand. La Convivenica worked because the minority agreed to house rules. All social animals have territories. It hard-wired.

[@sewlybutsurely]

well as an immigrant i can tell u if u assimilate which i agree is erasure of your original culture and it is painful, but u have better chance at economic prosperity but what hurts the most is that even when we assimilate to the max white americsns still wont accept us 😢 also there is so much segregation in the us , actually worldwide. i dont think integration is possible, people naturally gravitate towards people who look like them . ive never seen a fully integrated place , its just not possible, its against human nature i think

[@burtonspringer8327]

Yeah you are lying, I have lived on the United States my whole life. If someone assimilates fully they are most definitely accepted.

[@Nazarene_Judaism]

I endorse this message

[@EmpireOfLuciferSatanson666]

The Anglo way is the WAY, other ways are fraught with nonsense, superstitions and conflicts.

[@Kamau2012]

Code switching is how immigrants integrate. In 2022 ditched my anglicised name... It's was liberating.

[@JPGdesigngroup]

If you are capable of starting your own business and becoming successful in the US without learning the culture or language then props to you. However, if you must work for others and refuse to learn the language or culture of those you work for then you are only holding yourself back.

[@BendApparatus]

I don't know...she comes off as a little whiny... Assimilation is a side effect. Colonization is an enforcement... My country only offered me extreme poverty and death... In the USA I can be the good for nothing slacker that I was meant to be...😎

[@millabasset1710]

Assimilation is wrong, acculturation gives a chance for the dominant culture to compete fairly. assimilation benefits white nations only, it's always rhetoric from right wing circles.

[@trinakissel8537]

Heartfelt message with actionable suggestions! Wonderful talk, Nga!

[@campeiangomes4298]

Amazing

[@ajohnson3158]

Powerful and profound message! The damaging and negative effects of assimilation isn't widely talked about. This talk should be shown to anyone who works with underrepresented populations. Thanks for sharing your powerful message and experience. You are incredible!

[@angrytedtalks]

You are wrong. A refugee can either return to their own country or blend in. Setting up a ghetto in the USA is colonisation, not the other way around. Integration creates the diversity and cultural enrichment of America. Whilst her experiences of racism are wholly regrettable, her rejection of Western cultural values is a big slap in the face to the country which took her in. Vietnam is a perfectly safe place to return to if she wants to return to her earlier cultural practices.

[@lourenagboeah8825]

Nga, I am extremely honored to work alongside you on the Refugee Congress team. I expect that this Ted Talk will go viral as there are many who need to see it! Thank you for eloquently sharing your story and putting into words how refugees feel when they arrive to the U.S. These feelings go beyond resettlement, and your voice speaks for all. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This was such a beautiful piece!

[@patrickbass3542]

When you come to the USA...I don't where you came from and what you went thru to get to the USA...BECOME AN AMERICAN.

[@TheGrinch_]

Get some culture brother

[@ajohnson3158]

She and many others arrived in America because of wars and war crimes caused by America. You're also on stolen land from the genocide and slaughter that your ancestors committed. Educate yourself on what really happened!

[@BendApparatus]

​​@@TheGrinch_ lol culture?..guy needs a basic education...lol

[@blackpoliticsnewsnetwork1111]

​@BendApparatus facts! This place is great and horrible all at once. If you know your history, you know why. That's why tings Trump says resonates. At least he is honest about America, the good and bad.

[@Fleeglebutt]

Assimilation is the opposite to colonization. When I assimilate, I give up the ways of my old country, and strive to be like other members of my new country. When I colonize, I keep the ways of my old country, and strive for other members of my new country to become like me.

[@Kc-qe5dv]

Hmm Don’t Colonizers have used assimilation as a weapon, I’m uni student in the US I respect US laws & customs but will never stop speaking my language, learning about my culture & ancestors back home, eat my food speak my language, hangout with people from my culture just to stay connected, practicing my religion, I’m also not scared to decline when I don’t want to celebrate & american holiday if it doesn’t align with my beliefs(halloween is coming & I’m not celebrating), I speak English perfectly & spell people names correctly(meanwhile Americans & Europeans who are always preaching assimilation once abroad specially in poor countries never assimilate to local cultures or at least learn our languages)I had a french professor who’ve lived in west africa until his death(peace to him)& never learned a language). As she mentions people have to learn how to spell our names correctly as we do with theirs.

[@harpersmith1400]

Keep in mind that she was a refugee. She wasn't choosing to melt into a voluntary pot in this country, she was trying to survive and being denied her name. Have you been denied your name? Have you been denied your way of life?

[@blackbetaera]

When your wrong!! it's ok just don't be wrong and strong! But assimilation is the direct effect colonization!. They are not opposite. But rely on one another to make colonization stable! There is no way around it!!

[@linn8084]

That was a great talk and now I understand the difference between assimilation and integration much better! I have an exam on multiculturalism tomorrow and this was some nice inspiration I'll take into account.

[@ndeyendao4005]

What a powerful speech, Nga!!! This resonated so much with me as an African immigrant. You are absolutely right we must not dilute ourselves!! Never!! No to assimilation!!

[@angrytedtalks]

Dilute? That is racism.

[@ajohnson3158]

@@angrytedtalks How does someone taking pride in their culture affect you? Bye colonizer.

[@angrytedtalks]

@@ajohnson3158 Your comment highlights your ignorance. A person arriving in the USA from Africa and expecting to enforce African culture on the USA is a coloniser. When you swear allegiance to the flag to become a citizen, you reject old culture in favour of the (inclusive) US culture. However, "dilution" is about race. Discrimination on ethnicity is racism plain and simple.

[@ajohnson3158]

@@angrytedtalks Hey colonizer, thanks for showing the world your hate, fragility, racism, and xenophobia. Thanks for letting everyone know how clueless you are about where you came from. Thanks for reminding everyone how your ancestors committed genocide both physically and culturally on others. Again, how does someone taking pride in their culture affect you? Bye, colonizer.

[@cs0345]

@@ajohnson3158 Moving to another country and not wanting you or your children to assimilate to the host country is literally colonization and racism

[@joecole7122]

I have to wonder why she doesn't return to Vietnam.

[@ajohnson3158]

Unless you're Native American, I'm wondering why you don't go back to your country. You're showing your ignorance about why she and others who are forced to leave their countries and are unable to return. Pick up a book and learn history!

[@davidthomas9276]

When you try to force change on a people, are you not becoming the very thing you fled from?

[@ajohnson3158]

You mean like what you and your ancestor did to Native Americans?

[@sarabethford384]

Just watched this finally! Thank you, Nga Vương-Sandoval. It's powerful, challenging, and to the point. You are such a beautiful speaker and a strong leader. I like that it challenges us to listen, respect, and honor the origins of what so many people bring. When we try to erase language, culture, and history, we harm ourselves and others by halting opportunities for growth, learning, richness, and we risk erasing whole wonderful people. I like that you gave very specific ways to work toward decolonization. Thank you for being who you are.

[@myxomycete6373]

No matter how horrible your childhood was, if you move into another country, you should be grateful to that country and assimilate to his people. That does not mean denying your origin

[@marthaiguzman5685]

Nga, I am honored to have listened to your story. It is invaluable to have first-hand accounts of such a difficult process and how profoundly painful it is to have your own history taken from you even if by good intention. Thanks for speaking truth to power, may we amplify your message to every corner of the globe so it never happens again

[@cdogguck1294]

Assimilation is showing respect for the culture of a country you wish to live in. If you cannot assimilate into a culture that means you do not belong in that country because you will never be successful in that country without also practice in the collective beliefs of others who live there. People who believe this should really just stop being selfish and fix their own problems and stop projecting outward.

[@ajohnson3158]

Hahahahahahaha!!!! Speaking of projecting. Why aren't you talking about war crimes committed by America and its military forcing people to flee? Why aren't you taking about the rapes and murders by America during its occupation of Vietnam and so many other countries? You're on stolen land so why aren't you assimilating to indigenous culture and language? Oh right, you don't want to talk about how your ancestors caused mass genocide to indigenous people and then they themselves refuse to assimilate. Why don't you quit being selfish and quit projecting outward? No, you don't want to do that now do you?

[@Daniela-kd6ln]

No brother. You can live next to other cultures & have a thriving community. Why do you want to force people to be one bland white culture? Hasn’t the cultural and racial domination done enough damage

[@kagenlim5271]

@@Daniela-kd6ln ?

[@ServantOfSatania]

I can't help but wonder if Nga has ever heard of Chinatown, considering all the talk about dominant culture supposedly suppressing other cultures

[@berzurker]

That is an inconvenient reality because it clearly shows Americans embracing other cultures and not forcing them to assimilate. This entire storyline is tiresome and completely incorrect.

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

@@berzurker Manfred Richthofen Americans embracing other cultures is something that should be reciprocrated with the adoption of the American melting pot.

[@burtonspringer8327]

​@@Cecilia-ky3uwThat's not what the melting pot is

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

@@burtonspringer8327 is the melting pot not mutual assimilation?

[@johnserton7997]

You must assimilate to be successful and to preserve the society that took you in so we can continue on this path not the path your family ran from. People go to different countries that have higher standards of living and are unwilling to accept the society that accepted them, they bring the same horror and weakness they fled from. Become part of our country not another stain on it. Good luck. Godspeed.

[@miguelcontreras1684]

Interesting how this speaker did not say one good thing about the USA in her whole speech. Plz note that it was the USA that welcomed her like millions of other immigrant/refugees into this country. She did however call the USA a “colonizer” for being “name insensitive”. The Vietnamese community thrives in this country, with their businesses and through education this country has been a blessing to immigrants. Shame on you!

[@Andy95pirate]

Come on, you can learn your tongue whenever you want, take a look at China, and what is currently going in eastern Africa then you can speak about colonization..

[@berzurker]

No no no no no. We don't turn the magnifying glass inward. Let's not even mention the Uyghurs or Tibet.

[@Brainjoy01]

Speak more on this please? ​

[@lisamonkus]

Incredible message!

[@alexbort3082]

So her parents collaborated with the occupants betraying Vietnam. She is not Vietnamese, she is american. Why is she complaining?

[@berzurker]

It's popular to hate America. There's a system in place that allows this level of cognitive dissonance to not only be observed but promoted as mainstream thought.

[@ajohnson3158]

Why are YOU complaining? I don't see you complaining about the war crimes causing her and millions of others to flee their country. I don't see you complaining about the murders of innocent people in her country and many others. Pick up a book and learn history!

[@MsAsh444]

That was powerful.