TNFG Weekly Chapter 17: Wealth of an Immigrant

TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets that’s worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Culture, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Ethnicity and etc.

And to be honest, it’s kinda like free-styling off of one topic. The Goal is release 52 chapters in 2021 and twice per month every year after. Why? Because I favor doing extreme goals first to build muscle memory and then ease back into digestible bites.

Check out these chapters below:

Average Net Worth of Immigrants and 1st gen living in the US

Table of Contents

The Multi Generational Path Toward Something Better

Don’t tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.
James W. Frick

Beyond Immigration: Being a 1st Gen

The absolute mad-lad genius, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the earliest draft of In the Heights in 1999 during his sophomore year of college. The show played in Wesleyan University’s student theater company Second Stage.

With a fusion of freestyle rap and Salsa, this 80-minute, one-act show expanded to Broadway. It was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards and won four, including Best Musical. It was at this point that Lin-Manuel was diagnosed with back problems for carrying NY’s Latin-X community.

Why did it succeed?

The story of “in the heights” was set in the largely Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan, New York City. Like Kim’s Convenience which shot in popularity in Canada and later in the US, it told the story of the unseen. This was a lived experience of people.

I’m all here for it. Shout out to Netflix for doubling down on International content like Lupin and the Wishing Dragon.

Although the movie adaptation of In the heights suffered from criticism for not featuring enough diversity, I think it’s the sad reality that all 1st gen struggle with. We arrive in spaces where we are finally represented but only to get blamed for no representing enough.

The Struggle of Representation

Too many Black and Brown millennials are beholden to lifting an entire community up.

Like them, I subconsciously long for what non-minorities have. The ability to simply be myself without the baggage nor the responsibility of saving everyone else. When we succeed “the other” looks at us as the single story and points and say he/she made it. When we fail, “the other” looks at us and think I knew he/she couldn’t make it.

All this pressure while still being our parents’ retirement plans.

It’s a heavy burden. However, it still remains our greatest responsibility to move the ball forward. This is why Lin-Manuel apologizes. We can’t win while failing to address the very root cause that created this outstanding movie. People cannot be left unseen.

‘A dream isn’t some sparkly diamond we get. Sometimes, it’s rough. And it’s not so pretty.’
Usnavi (In the Heights)

How Immigrant Families Redefined Wealth

Growing up in an immigrant families, often means that you didn’t have a lot but the lessons were plenty:

Being thankful of every day. In the US, everything is fast paced and sometimes you might feel that the world is passing you by. In truth, if you have a roof under your head, a warm meal and love; you are 90% on the way to achieving success. The other 10% is all hard work.
Meal Prep. We grew up on meal prep before it was instagrammable. Large pots of long grain rice, deliciously flavored proteins and what the Brazilians call “a colorful plate.” Incorporating vegetable and legumes that most Americans have yet to taste. We really learn to make the best out of what was available with Adobo.
Group Economics. Either it’s through shared services from carpooling, clothing alterations, and hair styling; we were there for each other. It’s the open house aspect. We can definitely make it together.

A Great Book on the Subject of Being the Immigrant

The Good Immigrant

In a time of Trump’s proposed border wall and travel ban to the marching of white supremacists in Charlottesville, America is consumed by tensions over immigration and the question of which bodies are welcome. In this much-anticipated follow-up to the bestselling UK edition, hailed by Zadie Smith as “lively and vital,” editors Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman hand the microphone to an incredible range of 26 writers whose humanity and right to be here is under attack.

My Favorite Videos on the topic

Do You Feel American?: Immigrant Parents vs 1st Generation | Middle Ground

The First 3 Minutes of In the Heights Changed Everything

Can the American Dream Be Achieved If You’re Not A Citizen? | Diego Corzo | TEDxMountainViewCollege

America is the land of opportunity, but that doesn’t mean it comes easy. Experience Diego’s journey from starting out as a DACA student to becoming a professional businessman.

Diego Corzo is a millennial entrepreneur from Austin, Texas. Diego was born in Lima, Peru and moved to the United States with his family when he was 9 years old. Diego’s parents told him that America was the land of opportunity and that with hard work and determination all of his dreams would be possible. Diego graduated in the top 1% from Florida State University with 2 bachelor degrees in less than 4 years and no debt. In corporate America, he worked for General Motors as a software developer but eventually pursued his passion for real estate. He has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Future Sharks, and CNNMoney to name a few.