Being a first-generation American means being a mix of two distinct cultures. With this comes a balancing act and an attempt to navigate the clashing of two different worlds, where each holds distinct values, traditions, and expectations. We are expected to be “American” enough but also cherish and honor our cultural background. America, often described as a “melting pot,” is home to a diverse group of individuals with distinct backgrounds, yet the discourse surrounding immigration often takes on a hostile and xenophobic tone. This landscape, shaped by power structures, is unwelcoming to immigrants and their families, particularly those of color. As first-generation Americans, we don’t know how, nor do we want to embrace, any part of us deemed “Un-American,” and so we assimilate. This has a dangerous consequence: an erasure of culture that affects us and future generations.