Not directly, but thanks to someone who worked in his group, I discovered for the first time Mr. Harry Belafonte and its unique brand of Calypso inspired music. It was the early 90s and a very talented percussionist had come into the office looking for an O-1 visa. Thanks to the introduction of this potential client, I began my research in earnest and discovered a whole new musical world.
It’s no coincidence that my West African client was attracted to Calypso. I have since learned that Calypso is known to originate from traditions developed by West Africans brought to the Caribbean. I was also made to understand that Kaisos were executed by “a griot or chantwell, a local bard who told stories through song, offering social commentary through praise, satire, or lament. It is said that their words often mocked slave owners and were recited during the harvest. Canboulay festivalprecursor of the Carnival festival.
My Senegalese client was a griot (a hereditary troubadour-historian) who played the kora and the Bougarabou – a West African percussion instrument. He captivated me with his stories and couldn’t stop drumming on my desk as he told them in his musical accent. I loved working with him and along the way we successfully petitioned for an O-1 visa.
Among other things, as part of my research, I learned how Harry Belafonte rose from a poor background to become a champion of civil rights and, more specifically, of his incredible friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although this knowledge was not part of the O-1 visa application we ended up filing for the client, it gave me incredible insight into the fascinating history of the civil rights movement. I was reminded of all this on August 28, as we celebrated the 60th anniversary of theI have a dream speech.” Mr. Belafonte actually helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, during which Dr. King gave his famous speech.
This all came together when I realized that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) turned eleven recently Moreover, and for far too many immigrants brought here as children, their hopes and aspirations still remain a distant dream. I wonder if we are likely to see civil rights champions like Harry Belafonte rise through the ranks of immigrant activists and help set the stage for a defining moment that will shape immigration policy. The artists and performers are unique in that they are fascinating storytellers. All it takes is one spark to light the beacon of immigrant activism. We need responsible, non-violent action that galvanizes imagination and opens hearts and minds to the plight of human beings stuck forever in limbo.
For example, the film Las Abogadas brilliantly captures some of these immigrant stories with their trials and tribulations and ultimately inspires. It lifts our spirits to know that our fellow immigration lawyers are risking their lives to accomplish what can only be described as a noble mission in the service of our fellow human beings. As Careen Shannon says it“Our mission in releasing this film is to raise awareness of the incredibly difficult journey asylum seekers undertake to save their lives or those of their loved ones, to amplify the important work being done by immigration lawyers and to Encourage people to learn more about the plight of their loved ones and migrants and find ways to help them.
As immigration practitioners, we defend the rights of immigrants every day. We are at the forefront of this fight and we can make a difference by telling our stories and sharing how powerful our customers’ stories are. If we lawyers can convince a USCIS officer to grant the petitions, we should be able to convince anyone that our cause is worth it and that immigrants deserve our respect and admiration. They should not be judged by where they come from, but by what they bring to our society, a rich diversity of culture, identity and friendliness that makes us what we are proud to be: Americans!