Dr. Michelle Nelson on Immigration

I'm born here. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, shout out to Brooklyn, the center of the universe, but my parents have made it very important that I understand my West Indian culture and West Indian values.  

I'm first generation American. I'm proud to say my mother hails from Barbados and my father from Jamaica. And they came here as two young adults in their late teens with a couple of dollars in their pocket. And because of the American dream, wanting to have a better life for themselves and their eventual children, they came without knowing what their fate would be, what the future held. And I am so glad that they took that step. I have been able to have the best of education the best when it comes to opportunities, but that's because I have very, very savvy pushy mother. I'll be very honest. There is no opportunity or stone that is left unturned that she is not going to attempt to access for her children. 

I wonder as difficult as the healthcare system is to navigate for us who are Americans, what happens to the immigrants that come from other countries that can't speak a lick of in English, who is advocating for them. And we have to make sure that everybody gets equal opportunity, particularly children, because I could have been a different story. My parents advocated and pushed for me. And because they did that here is where I am. And we have to make sure that we're advocating, and we're pushing for others as well. Those who can't advocate and push for themselves.