When my great, great grandfather came over from Germany almost a hundred years ago, he didn’t become American overnight. It took generations of my family living in the U.S. to become American. From once being the descendant of German immigrants, I am now just, simply, American.

If I were to call myself a German-American, that wouldn’t be accurate. I could be considered a European-American, that would likely be the most politically correct term. However, when I fill out a job application, school forms or sign up for something, I check the box labeled “Caucasian.”

The history of Italian immigrants in the U.S. will show they were once discriminated against and faced unwarranted violence on the basis that they were different from the rest of the white immigrants of the time. Now, Italian Americans are just Americans. Another check in the Caucasian box.

Similarly to the treatment of refugees in our country today, Irish refugees in the 19th century were despised. Brought over largely as a result of the potato famine, Irish immigrants were viewed as poor and needy. Religious tensions also arose at that between Protestant-Americans and the Irish-Catholics. 

So when did European-Americans become simply Americans? Same with Italian, Irish and other immigrants? What about Asian-Americans, Latin-Americans and African-Americans, whose families have lived in this country far longer than my own? What about the Native Americans whose land was quite literally taken away them from?

The U.S. has arguably always struggled with race relations, with boiling points before and during the Civil War and especially during the Civil Rights movement of the ’60s. Seeing as history has a tendency of repeating itself, we again find ourselves in a time of heightened racial tensions in the U.S. With anti-Semitic messages coming from influential government leaders and more acceptable views on overt racism, our country is struggling to make inner peace.

While the blame of economic misfortune is continually placed on ‘lazy’ immigrants and racial minorities continue to be scapegoated, it is important to remember that we all came from immigrants. Our ancestors came to this country for similar reasons that immigrants today are: for better opportunities and a chance at the promised “American Dream.” Our ancestors likely worked back-breaking jobs at low wages, just as immigrants today. Our ancestors may have faced discrimination in the face of adversity once they stepped on American soil, similar to immigrants today.

So, really, what makes us better than them? In reality, there is no ‘us’ and ‘them.’ We all want the same thing, essentially – a happy, healthy family and the ability to provide for them. We’re all alike in sharing the belief that America can give that to us.