NPR

In 'The Good Immigrant,' New Americans Grapple With Their Polarized Country

Co-editor Chimene Suleyman says she doesn't want to wait for other people to decide who's a good immigrant. She wants immigrants to answer that question for themselves.
Chimene Suleyman is a co-editor of <em>The Good Immigrant</em>.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Fatima Farheen Mirza's family received an unexpected gift.

At least, that's how it seemed when a neighbor's daughter delivered a bag of candy to their front door. Mirza's parents had recently moved to Texas. At first, Mirza's mother thought the candy might be a sort of welcome to the neighborhood.

"Then Mumma looked closer," Mirza writes.

It wasn't a gift bag, but a Ziploc plastic bag — "unadorned and filled only with Skittles."

At the time, Donald Trump was running for president. And his son, Donald Trump Jr. had just compared Syrian refugees to Skittles. "If I had a bowl of Skittles and I told you just three would kill you," Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter, "would you take

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Amid Concerns About Kids And Guns, Some Say Training Is The Answer
The number of U.S. children dying from gunshot wounds has climbed in recent years. Keeping guns out of reach is one way to curb the trend — others argue to teach kids to handle guns responsibly.
NPR5 min readAmerican Government
Poland's President Visits Donald Trump As Allies Eye A Possible Return
Former President Donald Trump met Wednesday with Polish President Andrzej Duda, the latest in a series of meetings with foreign leaders as they brace for the possibility of a second Trump term.
NPR4 min readDiscrimination & Race Relations
Why London's Muslim Mayor Needs The Same Security As The King
London Mayor Sadiq Khan talks to NPR about being a Muslim politician in Britain — and his fears around a second possible Donald Trump presidency.

Related Books & Audiobooks