Sara Milano’s Summary

In the chapter “How to Make Prisons Disappear” I was continually heartbroken by Shirley Tan’s recollection of her own immigrant story and relationship to her undocumented status. Freddy describes that their family “were model citizens, active in her church, and they presented heteronormative family dynamics as best they could to defend their right to stay.” I am interested in the effects of immigration on self and culture. Tan’s need to assimilate to American standards of normality and family reflects a need to prove to herself and others that she belongs. Padilla, on the other hand, has made mistakes in his life and refuses to divorce himself from his cultural ties. This makes him an unattractive client to defense attorneys and an unsympathetic case. Why are immigrants held to higher standards of morality than are naturalized citizens? I think one dimension of white privilege that is not explored often is the ability to screw up without having your mistakes and short comings attributed to your entire racial group. In class Dr. Simpson and students have shared their experience growing up in a family that was hell-bent on defying negative ideas about black people. The burden of being exceptionally hygienic, smart, heteronormative, ethical, etc falls on non-white people and those incarcerated to “prove” their worth disprortionately.