Define American

By now, many of us know that Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, is an undocumented immigrant. Not an “illegal.” Not an “alien.” But simply, undocumented.

If you have not read his moving story, published in the New York Times, it is a must read. Moving, to tears.

It is the story of deception. His deception of others, particularly throughout his professional career, but also of his own deception. The story of a young boy – sent to live with grandparents by parents who wanted a better life for him – who did not even know his own life story.

One day when I was 16, I rode my bike to the nearby D.M.V. office to get my driver’s permit. Some of my friends already had their licenses, so I figured it was time. But when I handed the clerk my green card as proof of U.S. residency, she flipped it around, examining it. “This is fake,” she whispered. “Don’t come back here again.”

Confused and scared, I pedaled home and confronted Lolo. I remember him sitting in the garage, cutting coupons. I dropped my bike and ran over to him, showing him the green card. “Peke ba ito?” I asked in Tagalog. (“Is this fake?”) My grandparents were naturalized American citizens — he worked as a security guard, she as a food server — and they had begun supporting my mother and me financially when I was 3, after my father’s wandering eye and inability to properly provide for us led to my parents’ separation. Lolo was a proud man, and I saw the shame on his face as he told me he purchased the card, along with other fake documents, for me. “Don’t show it to other people,” he warned.

It is, however, also the story of confidences. The tale of a young man who shared his story with others along the way, and received the support necessary to make a successful life for himself. To achieve the American dream.

Now, the ultimate sharing of confidences. The pinnacle of truth-telling. The apologies for, and acceptance of – the lies.  All of them.   Not just in written words, but spoken:



I am certain plenty of folks will spout vitriol against this man – by all accounts a remarkable success story.  A Pulizer Prize winner before the age of 30.  Many will call for his immediate deportation.

I will just do as he asks in the video – what would I do?

Define American, please. And let's talk.