The Immigrant Dream - How do we democratize opportunity?

Did you ever think about when and where you were born would determine your success trajectory?

This photo was a game changer for my family.

My late mother’s beautiful handwriting on the photo indicates it was taken in 1937 in Zhongshan (中山), China. She was 12 years old, the eldest daughter.

Missing in the photo were her two older brothers. One passed away - I never knew why. The other brother, Uncle Chester, was 15 years old at the time of the photo and had been living in America for 6 years.

Let me do the math for you. He moved to America when he was 9 years old.

Back in the 1900’s, for a 9-year-old to be in America would generally meant he was from a wealthy family. For Uncle Chester, his situation was the polar opposite.

My grandparents had seven children and were dirt poor. For example, my grandfather died of famine during the Sino-Japanese war and my mother had to beg our relatives for money for his burial.

Out of pity, someone offered to bring Uncle Chester to America under false identification. He abandoned his given name Lee Hwa Zhou (李華洲) and took on a new name Chan Bing Fook (陳炳福).

His journey across the Pacific Ocean took around three weeks and he was detained in Angle Island for even longer. Not only that no one holding his hands to calm his fears, but when he arrived, he had to work in a restaurant to pay off the cost of the false identification.

He was 9 years old.

Uncle Chester returned to China as part of the US Navy. He was even a member of Flying Tigers, the first American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air Force to help oppose the Japanese invasion of China.

Only then, after more than 10 years, he was reunited with my mother and the family.

How does Mr. Chan get the Lee family to America for a lasting reunion?

After Uncle Chester declared his real identity through the US amnesty program, it was this photo that started our immigration process.

How exactly - I don’t know. It’s probably a 1950’s version of facial recognition that demonstrated common features amongst the Lee family.

Democratizing Opportunity

Being born in peacetime and as the niece of Uncle Chester meant I was a product of the immigration dream.

Not everyone has an “Uncle Chester” whose sacrifice benefited his entire family.

How can we democratize opportunities for others?

It takes education.

I was able to receive a free education in America. When I was in university, I worked part-time at Macy’s, a department store. I was envious of the staff in the shoe department who received triple hourly wages plus commission by working on a Sunday. They made a lot more money than me. It was tempting to drop out of school and to do that full-time.

My father encouraged me to finish my education as a priority. And if I want to sell shoes afterward, that would be fine. Finishing my education opened new opportunities for me. When I went to Macy’s shoe department years later, I realized my salary as a university graduate would be more favorable in the long term.

It takes financial literacy.

Many domestic helpers retire without financial stability despite working abroad for decades.

When the son-in-law of my Filipino domestic helper asked for $5,000 loan to secure a job in Canada, I required him to create a repayment plan based on his monthly budget. Rather than simply gifting him the funds, I recognized the importance of this moment as an opportunity to enhance his financial literacy.

It takes courageous leaders.

Courageous leadership plays a pivotal role in challenging ingrained systems of inequality. The caste system deeply entrenched in Indian society has long perpetuated discrimination and inequity, with one's caste determined at birth and remaining a lifelong label regardless of individual talents or aspirations.

In his memoir, Doctor Steel, Dr. Jamshed Jiji Irani, affectionately known as “Doc” and former CEO of Tata Steel, dedicated a chapter to addressing the caste system. For a leader of Doc’s stature to openly oppose the caste-based divisions in his own country reflect both courage and a commitment to effecting change.

Individual actions, when harnessed collectively, can serve as catalysts for global transformation.

How have you contributed to democratizing opportunities within your community?

#BeLikeWater #democratizingoppotrtunities #definitionofsuccess