An Immigrant’s Story

Note of intention

As a “foreigner”, “(im)migrant”, “othered body” one is confronted with the pertinent need to re-define home and re-establish one’s place within a new societal framework. I wish to reflect upon my personal journey as “(im)migrant” living in France (and the USA) while non-linearly interweaving the rich and diverse stories of fellow “(im)migrants” in examining the politics surrounding the notion of privilege within a new societal, political and cultural landscape.

The work explores the complexity of the “foreigner”, the “(im)migrant”, the “othered” in relationship to re-creating a sense of belonging. It examines our mobility and access as travelers/migrants/nomads inclusive of the perceptions and reception of the “(im)migrant” within a new society and cultural constitution; which are influenced by dominant norms, stereotypes and prejudices.

The politics of phenotype, religion, culture, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation, age, education and economic status are key factors that weigh in on the status, place, privilege and access of the “(im)migrant”. The work hence interrogates the experiences around stigmatization, assimilation, adaptation, integration, objectification, exotification, marginalization of the “(im)migrant” within the societal, political, cultural and religious construct or paradigms of their new country, which consequentially creates a sense of provisional, definitive or temporary uncertainty and/or certainty grounded in politics of privilege and/or the lack thereof.