Through the Bars
Class
Article
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty Mentor
Jennifer Sinor
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
“Through the Bars” is a short creative non-fiction essay that depicts the night immigration detained my father. The essay is structured in four scenes, each from my perspective. With the exception of the third scene, the essay is told in chronological order. The first two scenes capture the exact moment I found out about his deportation, the third scene takes the reader to the facility where my father was detained, and the final scene returns to my childhood home a few hours after the initial incident, where I reflect upon the meaning this event will have on my life. Through this reflection, the essay also explores my struggle to find a sense of belonging in a country which has systematically rejected an essential part of my identity: ethnicity. It is in this final scene where I discover that this struggle has been a part of me throughout my life—not just in this one pivotal moment. While the piece was not written to be political, I cannot help but feel its significance and relevance in today’s political and social climate. With the current administration seeking to reform its immigration policies, I feel my first-hand experience needs to be shared now more than ever. By telling my story, I hope to provide a new perspective on immigration and deportation to my community—a perspective which humanizes this hot-topic issue.
Location
Room 421
Start Date
4-12-2018 3:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2018 4:15 PM
Through the Bars
Room 421
“Through the Bars” is a short creative non-fiction essay that depicts the night immigration detained my father. The essay is structured in four scenes, each from my perspective. With the exception of the third scene, the essay is told in chronological order. The first two scenes capture the exact moment I found out about his deportation, the third scene takes the reader to the facility where my father was detained, and the final scene returns to my childhood home a few hours after the initial incident, where I reflect upon the meaning this event will have on my life. Through this reflection, the essay also explores my struggle to find a sense of belonging in a country which has systematically rejected an essential part of my identity: ethnicity. It is in this final scene where I discover that this struggle has been a part of me throughout my life—not just in this one pivotal moment. While the piece was not written to be political, I cannot help but feel its significance and relevance in today’s political and social climate. With the current administration seeking to reform its immigration policies, I feel my first-hand experience needs to be shared now more than ever. By telling my story, I hope to provide a new perspective on immigration and deportation to my community—a perspective which humanizes this hot-topic issue.