Michael Rain: What it's like to be the child of immigrants | TED

Michael Rain is on a mission to tell the stories of first-generation immigrants, who have strong ties both to the countries they grew up in and their countries of origin. In a personal talk, he breaks down the mischaracterizations and limited narratives of immigrants and shares the stories of the worlds they belong to. "We're walking melting pots of culture," Rain says. "If something in that pot smells new or different to you, don't turn up your nose. Ask us to share."
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[@johnbagel2560]

Growing up with my parents (who came from the Soviet Union) is probably my biggest blessing. They came with no money, and no knowledge of the English langue and made their way into the American middle class with hard work and motivation starting as full time workers at a truck loading facility. This inspires me to see how competence and love for family can get you far in our country as they strove to better their situation for me and my sister as they both worked full time and studied in college. Immigrants face a lot of struggles to the point where I cannot completely list the complexity of issues my parents still face but just remember that hard work, love for family, and a respect for the country you have come to can bring you far.

[@ShyanTheLegend]

World History With Dan immigrants do well because they know what's at stake and they make the most of their opportunities.

[@johnbagel2560]

alakazam fam definitely something we all need to learn.

[@ShyanTheLegend]

World History With Dan I agree

[@michaelrain4460]

Well stated. Thank you for commenting.

[@kxenia7852]

What nationality do you consider yourself to be?

[@driver13g27]

I wish all people were able to look beyond the surface and realize that there are good and bad, legal and illegal, adaptable and unadaptable, qualified and unqualified immigrants from every continent, country, ethinicity, culture, religion etc. Generalizations / Prejudices really don't do anyone justice, it's troubling when e.g. a black immigrant tries his best to integrate and is still not regarded as a full-value citizen by some, no matter how hard he tries

[@Valient6]

I wish liberals were able to look past poor desperate immigrants and realize there are legal and illegal ways to enter and live in the United States. And also that our constitution does not protect any person who isnt a citizen of the United States.

[@after1001]

Why does he represent the experience of all immigrants? He's just an individual, not a representative of his ethnic group. The average Indian immigrant makes $110,000 per year in the United States. This is intellectually bankrupt.

[@michaelrain4460]

@@after1001 I don't represent all immigrants. I just told my story. No one immigrant could ever represent everyone.

[@thefleetfooted]

Man said "Are you even black?" 😂😂😂 Nah, I'm finished. I can definitely relate.

[@anonymousowl5240]

I'm a 1.5th generation Colombian living in America. My parents were brought here by their parents when they were teenagers. My issue is that... I feel like I don't belong and NOBODY understands that. I feel like an exotic animal that was born in captivity. Does anyone else feels this way?? I always get dismissed for being unpatriotic...

[@gizemyilmazer9044]

Oh I understand 😊 it’s that feeling of belonging nowhere and everywhere, questioning yourself where’s home while having multiple homes! I was born in France (only me- not my siblings) my parents are Turkish, I live in Australia which I consider home now, and my husband is Colombian. Imagine how my future children are going to feel 😅

[@Beloved_Boahemaah]

PwC has this video as part of the Inclusive Training requirements for our global community and the joy on my face as soon as you started speaking and mentioned fufu was unmatched. Ghana to the world!🇬🇭 Thank you Sir❤️

[@DJofSparta]

Being the son of Indian immigrants I can definitely relate to his story.

[@after1001]

Why does he represent the experience of all immigrants? He's just an individual, not a representative of his ethnic group. The average Indian immigrant makes $110,000 per year in the United States. This is intellectually bankrupt.

[@DJofSparta]

after1001 He's speaking of the clash for first generation Americans between the culture of the country they live in and the culture their parents brought with them. And he wasnt speaking for all immigrants. And you made a generalization. My family was lower middle class, but I was able to go to college so maybe one day I will reach that average income.

[@ThePieSnatcher]

Yas

[@ryn2844]

I really want to try fufu now

[@jeffbriggs1987]

I think you would be very disappointed

[@ryn2844]

I don't think so, it looks awesome! Why do you think that? What does it taste like?

[@jeffbriggs1987]

dude it's a food poor people in African countries make to fill their bellies. It would be extremely bland and resembles a ball of dough. It would only be good if u covered it with other foods.

[@ryn2844]

Mate the same is true for foods from any other part of the world. Bread, Pasta, Knödel, Noodles, Dumplings, Nang, Tacos, Pizza, they all just used to be balls of dough that poor people made to fill their bellies. And even now, they're alright on their own, but the spices and sauces and veggies we put on them make them better, and the same is true for fufu. Based on images of it on google, it doesn't look bland at all. It looks good. Seriously dude, don't knock it till you try it. I've had food from Africa before and it tasted awesome. Just don't assume that everything coming from there is automatically tasteless. That's a prejudice. Just try it first.

[@jeffbriggs1987]

What about mud cookies from Haiti?

[@richardboateng8924]

I really like him and think this is really helpful because I am Ghanian and I was born in America and grew up in New York. So this means a lot to me and I agree with everything he said.

[@bigdawg1448]

U American

[@lorealiiiii]

@@bigdawg1448babes you can’t tells someone what they are 😭 you’re just sounding ignorant

[@kennedyodiboh6612]

I'm a first generation Nigerian immigrant, and this speech captures my feelings and experiences almost to the "t". I was actually going to make this my Academic Decathlon speech, but I guess that option is off the table :/

[@l0g1cseer47]

Warm welcoming, tone avidly engaging and humorous with am emphasis on open culture sharing. Superb talk.

[@michaelrain4460]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[@samialhadram4456]

I felt for minutes that Micheal rain was talkin' about me. I'm a first-generation Saudi , originally from Africa, mauritania specifically. 2:04 I consider myself a saudi , an African and a mauritanian. ❤️

[@samsimkin6814]

Thank you. Food for thought,, found this so interesting and informative..always better the more you learn

[@cocopen3415]

You have given a wonderful, meaningful talk. I wish those in power would listen to your discussion.

[@brendarua01]

A very nice talk. Thanks for sharing.

[@laurenfrat]

The food section of this video is super relatable

[@Bwilli1990]

This relates to me so much! I am the son of Liberian immigrants and i used to eat that so much as a child I still do. I am also of 🇬🇭 Ghanian and 🇱🇷 Liberian and 🇸🇱 Sierra Leonian descent. I have been conflicted about black Americans and while I may not get along with all of them I believe that one day we will understand each other.

[@hisokax4710]

I searched what fufu is on google and it looks deeeeelicious~~~

[@UBeesh10]

Very well spoken. Kudos

[@ivorydelights]

Well, that shot down some of my assumptions on various demographics. Thanks for opening my mind a little more!

[@behindcloseddoorsministries]

Loved this!💜

[@plartoo]

What a well-spoken (calmn and composed, no aggression) speaker with a good point to make. Rare on TED these days.

[@pedrohuerta5966]

Same it's often weird for me to feel comfortable in public english was my second language at home, while being primary outside of home

[@sararastegar3395]

wonderful, thank you!!

[@Vic-pg4rg]

I'm a son of immigrants too. My parents came from Mexico.

[@Creepzza]

Never heard such cheering after a speech before :P Although it was a pretty small room. Nice talk though

[@amonduul2154]

The problem is that the kids of african immigrants will suffer being born in the US. Most important is keeping an accent

[@simonsnow1645]

Hats off

[@jihyeonsong2281]

How many people googled fufu after this?

[@user-ei6xv9ol8h]

Love this!! :)

[@User-72430]

Hi Michael, how can I get in touch?

[@yahyabhatti2768]

This video doesn't deserved a dislike

[@MeanOldLady]

The guy himself or legal immigrants don't deserve a dislike, but the fact that stories like this are being spun as a narrative by the left to allow unfiltered, overwhelming migration from the left that will greatly damage the country when we already have enough problems of our own to deal with (limited resources - water in CA & the west for example, mass pollution of the Mississippi & the gulf from fertilizer run-off as well as CA run off poisoning a lot of the sea life, limited jobs, decaying infrastructure, insane crime rates, etc.) Limited, legal immigration is fine as long as it's merit-based at this point - just like most other countries require.

[@samzong1347]

The speaker’s smile is brilliant . I am an immigrate,

[@ulysseszoleruiz8790]

I really want to try Fufu

[@ElNegringoKreyolito]

Life in the Hyphen! Excellent talk

[@johnbagel2560]

I honestly want to try fufu now. Just because it sounds very fuzzy and warm.

[@jeffbriggs1987]

ill microwave a moldy peach for u how does that sound?

[@Brutaful]

It isn't fuzzy at all. It is warm though.

[@johnbagel2560]

J Briggs sounds like it would taste like the lovely internals of someone’s stomach. I was thinking more creme brûlée.

[@jeffbriggs1987]

I think you would be extremely disappointed by fufu. Unless you like bland food that poor ppl in Africa eat to stay alive and which resembles a ball of dough.

[@johnbagel2560]

J Briggs I assume like any traditional dish it can be incorporated very cheaply or high quality, don’t project your views.

[@krekhome]

brilliant

[@krishma3657]

I’m Afghan American:)

[@redhood4363]

The Talk was really good but what's a first generation immigrant? You are a first generation american, there's no such thing as first generation immigrant. Either you are an immigrant(a person who emigrated from his country to another), either you are not because you are born in the country where you live. I think it's important to understand that because otherwise people will consider the children of immigrants as immigrants themselves..

[@RVforestgreen]

Well that’s how first gens are treated. In America, sadly we are treated as not “real” Americans. When I come across someone, their first question to ask me is where I’m from even though I’m American.

[@Emperor.Penguin.]

You seem to act as though White America accepts these "1st generation immigrants" as their American kin. Why do you do this? Why does the US government have a long history of illegally deporting American citizens?

[@redhood8153]

@@RVforestgreen I don't doubt that since i'm the child of immigrant and i was born in europe, but i'm still treated like i have arrived yesterday. I was just saying that people like us should at least try to use the right word in order to teach the others.

[@RVforestgreen]

@@redhood8153 you’re right

[@ChoiReim]

Every immigrant kid will know the daunting identity crisis

[@georgioskyriacospanayiotou8979]

Such a Beautiful man

[@scatton61]

Very nearly everyone in the US has an ancestor who was the first in their family to be borne in a different country than their parents....... just about everyone

[@void9837]

American culture is supposed to be fun but it has not been taught to our immigrants correctly. Mom and Grandma are suppose to shop together, and Dad with Grandpa or they take turns watching the kids, so the gifts will be a surprise on Christmas morning. Black Friday is an accounting term when the clerks switch from red ink to black ink representing a profit. Being in the black means extra money after expenses for retailers. Merchants are preparing for the end of the tax season and start of the new calendar year.

[@thefleetfooted]

My don. A mans from Ghana.

[@fromthe4621]

Rah mans from Kenya. Big up all my african brothers and sisters

[@thefleetfooted]

from the 46 My g, big up. Man's from Naij, but I'm aff all the same, lol

[@zosmanovic9763]

I'll try fufu!

[@parvmaheshwari1790]

Great to hear this story of yours. This comes from an Indian. Got corrected on a no. of facts. Great respect.

[@maiteherrero4656]

And sometimes my mum handed over me at breakfast with a croissant

[@h.nguyen4193]

Exactly. Who's the Richest man in the world? A South-African.

[@oldaccount59minus1]

REMINDER. Not all immigrants are minorities, both my parents are German (from Germany.) Everybody in the comments seems to only be discussing immigrants in a negative way.

[@laurenfrat]

CherryPaul I know right!!

[@healthy4life688]

These ignorant people are being negative only because the immigrant is black or brown but if he is white it would be positive comments..

[@mohyudin5458]

Hello

[@Cerbyo]

why dont the white people on the show talk about controversial issues and overcoming adversity?

[@livingandlaughing4279]

the mighty spirit fufu???

[@lilcolgatevert3715]

*Bro*

[@tomisoetan9061]

I don’t mean to be judge mental, this guy is a good speaker, but I don’t understand the purpose or lesson of this ted talk. It’s a good message; be open to connecting with different people from all over the world, and one I appreciate particularly as a Nigerian, but a ted talk just didn’t seem the format for it. The ‘anoté’ (God I hope this is the spelling!) he mentioned I didn’t really get because that’s what subreddits and social media groups are for? Is it like a blog just sharing #relatable moments of being a first generation immigrant? I don’t see how it’s new from what already exists. Maybe because it’s shorter than most ted talks, it just basically felt like a few statistics, some humorous childhood stories and a one line lesson, just like it didn’t need to be a ted talk. Of course, that’s just my opinion and if you disagree that’s great! Always open to dialogue.

[@cancersh]

I agree w you that intellectually it might not be something original. But an addition of this talk wouldn't hurt as immigrants' voice is not mainstream. It helps other children of immigrants feel not alone and comfortable in their multiple identities and those who encounter them also accept them as who they are.

[@shivadhanush8805]

At 3:00 did he say axed instead of asked

[@Yarshy.]

aksed is a West Indian dialect of ask, it comes from the verb ax.

[@pennysmithsayhi]

shiva dhanush that’s how New Yorkers say it

[@jeffbriggs1987]

I noticed that. He is a true American black. I bet in his regular social life when he is not giving ted talks he speaks ebonics.

[@andrewwilliams3233]

Yep he did, like most every black ive heard.

[@LughSummerson]

Dack Hacksaw You're descended from immigrants.

[@jeffbriggs1987]

When he said 'fastest growing, and most educated immigrants' are African, that is extremely misleading. He is comparing a tiny group to as massive group. If 3 people from North Korea immigrated to the US today, then North Koreans would be the 'fastest growing' immigrant group. If all 3 of them had been to college at all, they would be the most educated immigrant group in the US.

[@Malibu722]

J Briggs that make sense

[@traktionskoeffizient6270]

They would‘t be the most educated in the country because that point is viewed from the amount of people compared to all immigrants. For example if those 3 Koreans all go to college and graduate, the other 9 Mexican are still the bigger part. But the point with „fastest growing“ is truly misleading, I agree with you.

[@ahmadrooshan3474]

ok..................

[@MrBillcale]

my mother sent me to school with frog legs snails raw herring or gouda cheese.. assimilation was what made this nation, multi culturalism is kiling it

[@malloryhowarth9905]

What?

[@oopperfect74]

First

[@after1001]

Why does he represent the experience of all immigrants? He's just an individual, not a representative of his ethnic group. The average Indian immigrant makes $110,000 per year in the United States. This is intellectually bankrupt.

[@markstanton63]

If only there weren't so many of them.

[@spanishinquisition5032]

what about children of non immigrants?

[@spanishrose213]

Spanish Inquisition ...Ask the pilgrims!

[@johnbagel2560]

Dack Hacksaw and what is that based on.

[@justinhofmann413]

World History With Dan... Uh, life? I actually have no idea what you're talking about but I can tell just from what you've said and what I've gathered and reading your other stuff, you don't base very much, ON anything

[@justinhofmann413]

World History With Dan, uh, wrong post my mistake

[@spanishrose213]

Dack Hacksaw ...Are you talking about children from European immigrants or children from Indigenous Native Americans? I assume you are talking about white/Caucasian children who's European ancestors emigrated to America, right?

[@thebigbadned3148]

Enough with all this pity. I am immigrant too, but I do know that a country has the right to choose if it wants immigrants. US has to preserve its culture and make sure immigrants are neturalized. All this progressive left ideas of we are all the same crap has to stop.

[@Robbie1308]

The Big Bad Ned he wasn’t asking for pity he was explaining his experience

[@MeanOldLady]

Yeah, it's not the guy himself, but the leftist push for any kind of immigration & they use testimonies like his to further their agenda to allow/pardon illegal immigration.

[@JesusmyRedeemer1]

One word: terrible.

[@hacunamatata6802]

Michael Rain is clearly an intelligent, nice man and I have no criticism of him personally. But on the matter of immigration between Africa and the U.S., why is it only a one way street? Why is it only Black Africans being aided, encouraged and enabled to immigrate to the U.S. and other White majority countries? If a racially mixed society is such a preferred condition, why is no similar effort made to entice Whites to immigrate to Ghana, a country that is 98% Black African? If diversity is strength then Ghana must be very weak and culturally stagnant. Why are efforts at diversity and multiculturalism only directed at White majority countries? This absolutely dilutes the existing White majority in those countries. Why is this being done?

[@stupidystu]

What it's like to be the child of immigrants. I do not give a dam.

[@chadoftoons]

Why do you lack compassion?

[@johnbagel2560]

Or the ability to spell.

[@spanishrose213]

Why are you watching this video? Moron!

[@johnbagel2560]

ChaosFlower yeah you can tell your story, not that it will be interesting but I’ll get some popcorn.

[@johnbagel2560]

D_Unknown because he has the ability to see, and he has internet access.