How Immigrants Shape(d) the United States | Nalini Krishnankutty | TEDxPSU

Do immigrants need the United States, or does the United States need its immigrants? Writer, researcher, and first-generation immigrant American Nalini Krishnankutty showcases many surprising examples of traditions, businesses and ideas that are considered All-American today, but which owe their origins to first-generation immigrants. She examines whether Americans ever truly welcomed immigrants, and provides parallels between current anti-immigrant sentiments and similar feelings during other periods in US history. This talk uses immigrant history and contributions to start a dialogue, and shape attitudes towards immigrants that are in line with both the values and the interests of the United States.
Dr. Nalini Krishnankutty is a first-generation immigrant American who moved from India to the U.S. to attend graduate school. A chemical engineer turned writer, researcher, and speaker, she believes in the power of migration to open minds and create new possibilities for both immigrants and their new homeland. Nalini is actively countering rising anti-immigrant sentiments through her workshops on immigrant history and contributions. She is currently developing new community platforms and writing children’s books to make immigrants visible and bring them from the boundary of the circle to the center. 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

[@Yajtsa]

What a great synopsis of the history and perception of immigrants in the US. Unfortunately, the public discourse is often void of reason. I appreciate the effort taken to research and provide an articulate voice to such an important topic.

[@lovonyl]

What a thoughtful speech. Deeply documented and well delivered.

[@darlenecolmar7403]

We need to share this in our American History classes.

[@kunyu673]

this is in my ELA class, thats the only reason im here

[@nartron3000]

i dont think she understands the difference between legally migrating and illegal immigration...too often i caught her blurring the lines between them.

[@Simulatedsurgicals]

Amazing talk - so informative and compelling.

[@laxminrisimhan]

Lot of intricate details on immigration, issues before and now. Expounded the issues, contributions, correlations to current situation etc. in a crisp and succinct manner. Good luck and keep up the great research/awareness spreading

[@bugsywolfe]

Yes and many countries like India still have an Old World Caste system that keeps their own people perpetually in a state of poverty. Which is why most of the world has chosen America as the country to immigrate to.

[@kiran-yz8io]

Do u think immigration is good .... do u know how forigners will rule over u in the end??

[@ninnikins4768]

@@kiran-yz8io Yes immigration is good. This video has anything to say, it's that immigration is good. Foreigners almost never take over, unless you're a Native America Indian that has just accepted a white European colonist into their home.

[@kiran-yz8io]

@Impersonal Immigrant no stay where u are .. fix ur country then come... Coward

[@smitasingh5702]

@@ninnikins4768 wow democracy lol Read about mahajanpadas

[@sz2905]

I learned a lot about immigration - so informative and well researched! Brilliant presentation as well - have shared with others as well.

[@skumara1]

Thanks

[@admasutegegne8657]

Excellent presentation and informative.

[@ajtj3386]

I was once a right winger but once I had to immigrate my views were challenged. I had to endure what every other immigrant had to endure and walk in their shoes. Hatred, racism etc etc. My identity changed from a proud nationalist to an enlightened and empathetic person. In a way karma came back at me. Now I have to walk in the shoes of an immigrant and bear the burden of hatred directed at me.

[@armandolimon7465]

You were never a right winger. What country did you immigrate from and to where?

[@emmanuelnsongo4897]

Hi if you are inadmissible to Canada for misrepresentation does this prevent you from applying for an F1 visa for the USA

[@zesound]

What a Home Run! Americans (because I am in America) need to hear this.

[@Adrian-qi5ii]

Maybe the American Dreams is over and you all need to go now.

[@GK-op4oc]

How can the USA be called xenophobic and import a million new legal immigrants every year ? Let us turn our attention to Asian nations with restrictive immigration and thus very low levels of immigration.

[@ALABRASILIANA]

Thank you!!

[@ALABRASILIANA]

I feel like her talk was a little tone deaf and one sided.

[@JakeSteinberg170]

Very good video

[@berenyiandre2040]

Madam, Your video is brilliant. Warm regards. Andre BERENYI

[@tboned70]

Great Speech,........I like the beginning wen she gave facts on who were the actual Immigrants to America,.......but she failed to say after the " the Border crossed the Native Populous in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, etc, they didn't cross the border ",....All those Native Peoples were Kicked Off those same Lands were Forcibly thrown on a train or bus into Mexican land and dumped off to Steal All those Resources,.........that should of been said about Illegal Immigration from the Europeans,......!

[@armandolimon7465]

So when are you leaving the U.S.?

[@BhoomiCreatives]

Excellent Articulation.. Interesting perspective..

[@armoredninja4975]

Founder of kindergarten in 1850s a First generation German. You need to get your history right. First wave of Germanic people migrated to colonial Pennsylvania (then part of the 13 English colonies) in the early 1600s. They helped found the city of Germantown. The modern day Amish communities aka Pennsylvania Dutch can trace their roots back those 17th century settlers. Atleast try to get your history right.

[@terre5d]

Well although it is true that the forst germans came to America in the 17th century, it was far from a large wave of immigrants. The large portion of german immigration happened in the 19th and early 20th century.

[@armandolimon7465]

@@terre5d She was still wrong and lies about history. She uses sophistry and miss represents history.

[@ricktripathi8082]

all the immigrants to USA from phillipines chimna india mexico veitnam korea taiwan japan mid east only come to america by hearing the amazed idea of america the real pioneers and inventors who truly have the vision to do something for the world and their home country and the country which have accepted them comes from white christian european backgrounds true 100% research

[@aolvaar8792]

About 51% of immigrant-led households receive at least one kind of welfare benefit, including Medicaid, food stamps, school lunches and housing assistance, compared to 30% for native-led households

[@kalilalehner924]

And where is your source for this information?

[@luisrivas5965]

But if the statistic says “Immigrant” both undocumented and documented fall under that statistic. If you migrate, it is most likely for a better life so of course they would take an aid if it helps. Clearly you don’t know how statistics work because they are only taken from a select group and there are inaccuracies to many statistics. If 30 percent is used by natives. Then that would mean citizens. Compare the ratio of immigrants, residents(not native),etc. to citizens. Of course that number would be portrayed like that. Learn to do research and truly have a plausible case.

[@aolvaar8792]

@@luisrivas5965 did you read the link(paper)? Again, About 51%(the majority) of immigrant-led households receive at least one kind of welfare benefit,

[@luisrivas5965]

A Olvaar Right but it can not be a reasonable statistic to use for the argument due to the ratio of “natives” to others. All I am saying is that it’s not plausible statistics due to so many external factors.

[@sanjaysarma1392]

Fantastic!

[@veluswamyjeyaraj]

An Excellent summary of Immigrant history to US, Good to turn back and see the path we have all taken.....

[@aolvaar8792]

My ancestors came to what became the USA in the early 1600's, not ALL of us are immigrants to the USA. " I didn't cross the border, the border crossed me "

[@umangsaini1273]

I think immigration is one's own choice. But people should be more accommodating towards immigrants. We all should make our world a better place. If look at it, everywhere in the world people have immigrated from one place to another. Let's spread love❤️

[@krishnadassethumadhavan5944]

Brilliant presentation!!

[@ALABRASILIANA]

I found this talk a little tone deaf. Asia is a large continent with many countries and vast diversity. Sliding Native Americans into the category of immigrants to support the argument is very irritating to say the least. The arguments which are trying to pipeline European immigration to Asian immigration are questionable and come off as appeasing or seeking validation. Anglo immigration was colonization. And her lack of any talk about African immigration or Central and South American immigration is also telling.

[@lovonyl]

Did you listen to the entire speech? He did emphasize on them just because of her purpose but she did mention them. However, I do understand your concern. She could have spoken more about them.

[@wardude9161]

Every immigrant she said was white or Asian 😂😂

[@Teufer2]

If the US would only let immigrants in based on merit they would be mostly from western countries and east asia. As these countries are wealthier and a wealthier country means better educated citiziens. For this reasons the US has the "Diversity Visa Program". A program were they just handle out visa's in a lottery to inhabitants of "underrepresented" countries. In other words, non east asian and western countries.

[@wardude9161]

@@Teufer2 just say Europe 😂

[@Teufer2]

@@wardude9161 Japan and Korea are not in Europe.

[@wardude9161]

@@Teufer2 “WeStErN cOuNtRiEs”

[@Teufer2]

@@wardude9161 Japan and Korea might be heavily western influenced country. But they are no former western colonies and are in the east.

[@thescrolls9190]

Furthermore we have a housing shortage primarily because of immigration, most Americans prefer a roof over a Tesla.

[@cassidyjewel3639]

The housing shortage is not from immigration. How did you come to that conclusion?

[@benbowers7369]

Yes but nearly all the examples you gave, my tax dollars didn't go to support them. They came here with nothing, and we had nothing to offer them

[@antonkathmann7676]

where are ancestor from? youre not an american

[@antonkathmann7676]

your ancestors killed ''real'' Americans

[@ahammeran]

Born on American soil = American. We literally just watched a video that proved that we are a melting pot and "American" is made up of the combined cultures of everyone who has immigrated here. @@antonkathmann7676

[@BrazilianBee24]

AWESOMEEE!!!!!!!

[@joaquimfanandes4816]

We are such terrible people but they will not go back home.

[@zeltas4934]

Team ipr

[@Salaisuresh]

Inspiring presentation packed with wealth of information... I wish to add that across the globe, the US leads in 'patents filed per year'; wherein descendants from India are major contributors. Thank you Ma'am for the thought-provoking perspective on immigrants.

[@crickey__in__durham]

And how do you determine who is a "descendant of India"?

[@ninnikins4768]

@@crickey__in__durham ...

[@IlIlIlllIlIlIllli]

Hi mr. Woot

[@benharrison3479]

14

[@robertron5107]

How?(TREASON)

[@tboned70]

Mexican Peoples are Not Immigrants on their Ancestral Lands,........she is incorrect on that and went by Foreign Opinion not the Native Opinion,...!

[@armandolimon7465]

Mexican is a nationality, not ancestral lands. Can someone from the Yucatan state claim Texas as an ancestral land? Can someone from central Mexico claim San Francisco in California be ancestral land?

[@jasonday8334]

How US veterans shaped the United States, and how it’s more important to help immigrants over homeless veterans, why is that, can anybody explain that please?

[@georgelahmon4539]

And by the way illegal only applies to those who enter illegally

[@LittleDesertFlower78]

Ya know, I constantly hear/see 3rd and 4th generation Americans citing that THEIR ANCESTORS immigrated to the US LEGALLY -- in contrast with some immigrants today... And whenever I encounter this I find it amusing because for someone to say that is to reveal that they dont really KNOW much about their ancestors immigration experience, OR the history of immigration policy in the US -- and how prior to 1924 there werent really any major restrictions or criteria imposed on immigrants coming here. (With the exception of ppl frm many Asian countries who were barred frm immigrating here decades earlier.) Legal immigration into the US was basically only predicated on a persons ability to make it frm their country of origin to a port of entrance here, & then possibly waiting in quarantine for a period of timr if necessary for some. And when you look at it THAT way, & consider what legal immigration was (& how illegal immigration wasnt even really a thing for vast majority of nationalities & ethnic groups until the mid 1920s) then ya realize that you cant really compare the immigrants of 100yrs ago (& their legal status) to the immigrants of today (some of whom have no legal path to immigration open to them due to our current policies). Everything should be viewed & judged in proper context. Unfortunately when it comes too immigration Americans dont typically know enough about history or current policy to do so fairly & appropriately.

[@ninnikins4768]

Like the legal way is any walk in the park

[@robertmasina4610]

Yes, true immigrants built this country but that was many years ago when canals and railroads were being built. Now nothing further has to be built that I know of.

[@ninnikins4768]

And what do Americans born here do? I see immigrants make shops. the people born here just take jobs. Literally Elon musk exists. What do you do? hmm?

[@jocelynmunoz4796]

So just use immigrant then discard of them 😂 that’s nice

[@bootnazz1786]

What were the slaves doing

[@robertron5107]

CALI

[@bugsywolfe]

One can glorify themselves in many ways. You can come from a broken corrupt Old World Culture into America , the wealthiest , freest and most diverse country in history and still be critical and arrogant.

[@ninnikins4768]

That's right, you should love America no matter what, even when it's corrupt, and has plenty of flaws. Immigrants should have an undying love for America, because we saved them from the harsh reality of a third world country, begrudgingly because we wanted to look good. They should love us like they have girl is dependent on her man in a manipulative toxic relationship, where in criticism is met with "YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL" like that's not abusive at all. Also lets turn away their friends and family, because we already have our token immigrant. Yeah dude, those immigrants are definitely in the wrong here.

[@Domilyy]

@@ninnikins4768 thank you!👏

[@GK-op4oc]

An immigrant is foreign-born, so the USA is not a land of immigrants with its historically low 5% foreign born. Hey, I am a land of immigrants with a 5% or 14% immigrant population

[@soliddj]

What’s the main idea 😂?

[@russiauncensored7788]

She could do another talk titled: "How immigration, conquest, invasion, colonization, slavery and war has shaped and created just about every single country we now see on the globe, but lets pretend its something unique only to the US, because bashing America is the bandwagon"

[@nickgutenburg7595]

I think anti-immigration is biggest in the US compared to other countries, that's why it's important. I, as an American, will criticize America because I want to see it bettered and because I know the most about this country, why would I discuss xenophobia in countries like Germany if I know almost nothing about that country

[@russiauncensored7788]

@@nickgutenburg7595 That shows that you have a hyper-scrutinity magnifying glass on the US and very little knowledge of the world. Go across North Africa, go to S.A., go across the Balkans, go to Turkey, go talk to the people of Siberia. Go to Japan and China. Those places have large scale anti-immigration and anti-multicultural minds sets FAR GREATER than the US'. Check out the Gulf States like Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE. They have social policies and laws that ban Indian, African, and Filipino laborers from going in certain malls and restaurants on certain days. Literally only allow Whites and Arabs in certain shopping centers. The only way one can come to the conclusion that the US has the most anti-immigration sentiment is if you mostly watch mainstream media, you trust mainstream media, you selectively choose which facts to observe and which ones to ignore, you have view the world through the lense of America's experience, and you barely study or learn about the world outside the US. If you do any studying of other countries at all, you do it with motivated reasoning, only looking at aspects of the world that justify and reaffirm your own biases. The US is the most open society, the most diverse, and the world champion for taking in the most immigrants from the most amount of different locations.

[@ninnikins4768]

Why would an American talk about England's immigration problems.

[@ninnikins4768]

@@russiauncensored7788 America is the most diverse society that literally hates diversity. That's scary

[@digitdugit3599]

I bet she can have the same speech in India too😅😃😄

[@GK-op4oc]

Most of the examples are White Europeans that just moved to another place founded and built by White Europeans.

[@europeanidentitarian9827]

With terrible clarity that with any mixing of the blood of the European with lower races the result was the end of the culture-bearer. North America, the population of which consists for the greatest part of Germanic elements which mix only very little with the lower, colored races displays a humanity and a culture different from those of Central and South America, where chiefly the Spanish immigrants have sometimes mixed with the aborigines on a large scale. By this example alone one may clearly and distinctly recognize the influence of the race mixture. The Germanic of the North American continent, who has remained pure and less intermixed, has become the master of that continent, he will remain so until he, too, falls victim to the shame of blood-mixing.

[@robertron5107]

CALE

[@kathleenperez5596]

"

[@josephmedina2625]

They are trying to escape their problems like horrific gang activities and problems that also put them in serious danger. And us americans make it extremely hard to come into this country.

[@josephmedina2625]

Also 45% of us land is unnoccupied

[@josephmedina2625]

If we cant share america we should live here

[@kathleenperez5596]

@@josephmedina2625 undocumented = illegal

[@josephmedina2625]

@@kathleenperez5596 if you were cuaght in gang activities all around your country and you couldn't walk on the street alone bcuz there is dangerous people all the time I bet would like to immigrate

[@gernhartr.8334]

A German immigrant’s descendant is no immigrant but an American!!! Because the defining feature of an immigrant is to be foreign born. Thus their descendants are quintessential Americans...