What happens to a dream deferred? Langston Hughes, a legendary poet, writer, and playwright of the Harlem Renaissance once asked, but never answered the question. Rather, Hughes listed a series of suggestions that could happen to a dream postponed. The reason that he could not give a direct answer to this question however isn’t because he wasn’t intelligent enough to come up with an answer; instead it is because the response is based on individual actions and experiences. Each person response to a dream deferred differently. While some may continuously fight to accomplish these dreams, many on the other hand resist their urge to fight and give up the instant something blocks the way to their dreams. So, what kind of individual are you? I know many of you would quickly say that nothing should stand in the way of you and your dreams, so you would continue fighting. But what happens when you think that you have tried every trick in the book, but yet nothing comes of it? To makes thinks clearer, let us take a look at Tunde’s intriguing and somewhat unique case.
Tunde’s Story
My name is Tunde A. and I am 35 years old and miserable. I have been in this country illegally since I was seven years old, and as a young intelligent boy, I had many hopes and dreams. I dreamed of becoming a doctor, not because my mother a Nigerian woman imposed it on me like many may think, but because I loved the idea of making people feel better and saving lives. I was always interested in the way the human body worked, so I used to read anatomy and physiology text books to better understand it. I would practice the medical terminologies and even went as far as to try to diagnose my family members when sick. But this was all just a dream, because none of it ever came to pass.
My problems all began when I graduated H.S. and could not afford to go to college. My immediate family consisted of just me and my mother since my father passed away three years after our arrival to the United States. As for my mother, may God bless her soul where it now lies because she worked real hard to make sure that I accomplish my dreams. When I graduated High School, although she did not have the money to send me to school right away, she did save up money within a year with her security job and made sure that I was enrolled in school the following year. This however did not last because she passed away my second semester in College. This was the most devastating experience of my life. After she died, I felt alone in this big world. Although some did try to assist me in the beginning, their help ultimately ceased. I knew that I had to find a way to make my dreams come true all by myself.
So, I analyzed my situation and came to the conclusion that the only way that I can accomplish my dreams here in the United States is if I first become legal. Once this is done, sky is the limit for me. I would be able to get funding of all sorts to make my dreams come true. I looked into this possibility and found out that marriage was my only path toward citizenship. Knowing this, the problem now was that I did not know where or how I was going to get someone to agree to marry me so that I can get my papers. So I related my problem to a friend of mine, and he told me that he knew someone who would happily do it, but the only problem was that I would have to balance her off. I had to pay her for her services. I thought about it and eventually agreed to it.
It wasn’t long before I met the young lady Rose. When we first met, she requested for five hundred dollars and since all I was doing then was working, I was able to give her the money. We soon got married and things were going well for some time. She called me once in a while and requested for money, and when I came up with it, I gave it to her. She visited me whenever necessary and even left some of her things at my apartment for immigration purposes. I did not have a sexual relationship with her, and I was content with that.
I was just counting down the days that I will get my papers when out of nowhere, Rose’s boyfriend emerged. He called my phone and boldly introduced himself to me. He threatened me and told me that if I did not give him and his girl everything that they requested, my chances of getting my documents will become an illusion. I was terrified. I told him that I will do anything that he requested of me and pleaded with him to take it easy. The first thing he asked me for was eight hundred dollars. I managed to get that money to him the first time, but when his requests became frequent, I was unable to pay them the money.
When the letter came in for an interview with immigration, I was both delighted and scared. I knew that Rose and her boyfriend were going to require that I give them a huge sum of money, and I thought I was ready for them. I was already saving a little money on the side from the three off the book jobs that I was working to make ends meet, but then they threw a bomb shell at me. They requested for five thousand dollars. Where in the world was I going to get that kind of money? I was pissed off. I explained my situation to them, but Rose’s boyfriend was not having it. I did not think this was going to happen to me. When they seen that I did not have all the money, they said that I should give them what I did have, so I gave them the thousand that I saved.
The unexpected happened after that. Rose asked me for a divorce, and did not go for the interview. She claimed that her boyfriend needed the remaining of the money for his business and since I didn’t come up with it, he wanted her to divorce me. I later found out that her boyfriend was an ex-con that couldn’t really get a job and lived off her. That was it for me, I had no other choice but to grant her the divorce and I was back at square one.
There was nothing that I can do after that. All other attempts towards citizenship failed, and going back home to Nigeria was not an option. I do not know anyone there so I do all I can to make ends meet. I work and work to pay bills. I am almost done with school now at 35 because I am constantly taking semesters off. I don’t know what else to do. I recently heard about the Dream Act law, but I know that by the time that law is passed, I will not be eligible for it because I will be 36 years old this July 2010. I don’t know what to do. Can somebody please help me? I am not a lazy man, I will do anything to make my dreams come true, but with each day that passes by, I am slowly and unconsciously losing hope.
TRUTHBETOLD- I am very sorry to hear this story, and I do applause you Tunde for your strength. You have been through a lot in your life, and you are still standing very strong. Many people would have cracked under such pressure a long time ago. It is quite unfortunate that you may not be eligible for the Dream Act, but you still have to have hope. I do believe that for those falling outside of the boundaries of the Dream Act; their hope is the CIR laws that will soon be debated. I am happy that you are not giving up because there is a reason for everything in this world. Also, I want to emphasize on the point that your dream has only been deferred and postponed, but not destroyed. I appreciate you sharing your story, and pray that God answers all your prayers. For everyone out there reading this, please do reply if you know any other ways that Tunde could go about his current dilemma. Please assist him in making his dreams a reality.
For those who do not know about the Dream Act, here is a little summary:
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The "DREAM Act") is a long anticipated Immigration Bill which was just introduced in the US Congress (both Senate and House) on March 26, 2009. This bill will provide millions of immigrant children who graduate from U.S. High Schools the opportunity to receive U.S. Residency (a "Green Card") after so many years of being left in the shadows by State and Federal laws. The new legislation will provide immigration benefits to those who arrived in the United States as children, before the age of 16 and who have been residing in the U.S. continuously for at least five years prior to the Bill being enacted into Law.
Under the new DREAM Act, immigrants may qualify in part, by meeting the following requirements which have not been finalized by Congress:
- Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time the Law is enacted
- Must have arrived in the United States before the age of 16
- Must have resided continuously in the United States for a least five (5) consecutive years since
the date of their arrival
- Must have graduated from a U.S. High School, or obtained a General Education Diploma
(GED)
- Must have "Good moral character"
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