In case you missed it, Donald Trump is at the centre of yet another presidential controversy, thanks to his most recent jaw-dropping comment – where he reportedly said, in a meeting about immigration to the United States, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?”
How curious that the “shithole” countries @realDonaldTrump identifies by name—Haiti and nations in Africa—are places with black populations. Even curiouser that the country he calls as an ideal source for new immigration is the Land of the Blond, Norway.https://t.co/0brGucdF2V pic.twitter.com/wj5mOItwAx
— Jeff Yang 🫶 (@originalspin) January 11, 2018
For the record, the White House has not denied that Trump made the comment, and people are fuming across the party divide.
Many of the people Trump is actually referring to, however, have responded in a defiantly uplifting manner: by broadcasting their incredible achievements alongside their status as immigrants from those very same “shitholes” (god that feels bad to type).
The movement appears to have been started by Twitter user @AF_ROdisiac, who posted this inspirational response to the President’s comments:
I’m a future Doctor.
I’m a medical student.
I have 3 degrees.
I speak 3 languages.
I‘m published in Psych-Oncology.
I’m a member of Zeta Phi Beta.
I’m from a #ShitHole country! 🇸🇸 pic.twitter.com/NXeQCjhLTH— NCM. (@nyaalnasir) January 12, 2018
And people have replied in droves with their own success stories.
I’m a future clinical psychologist.
A student & mother.
Active youth advocate.
President of a youth organization.
Certified Peer support/mental heath specialist.
Speaks 2 languages.
And I’m from a #ShitHole country
🇸🇸🇸🇸🇸🇸🇸🇸 pic.twitter.com/LkisikvP0k— P. (@nyapapiya) January 12, 2018
I’m a future News Editor.
I’m a Journalism & Media Studies Postgraduate Student.
I have 3 degrees.
I speak 6 languages.
I‘m a 2018 Hazelhurst Fellow.
I’m a Postgraduate Merit Award holder.
I’m from a #ShitHole country 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/DYadcLXNxI— Takalani Sioga (@TakalaniSioga) January 12, 2018
I’m a publicist at BuzzFeed.
I’m a college graduate.
I have purpose.
I’ve traveled. I’ve influenced.
I’m a Haitian immigrant.
I’m from a #ShitHole country! 🇭🇹 pic.twitter.com/vLeTcmMhyI— benka (@YourBankAccount) January 12, 2018
I’m from #shithole country 🇱🇷 with a MBA in Healthcare management!!! And so do many more! Proud!!!
— JODI (@IAMJODICLARKE) January 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/tanna_bby/status/951851415449866241
I’m 1st undocumented attorney in AZ
I’m a business owner
I’m a job creator
I’m a national award winner
I‘m a volunteer and donor
I’m an @ASU_Alumni Sun Devil 😈
I’m proudly from the 1st #Shithole country @realDonaldTrump attacked 🇲🇽— Daniel Rodriguez (@Darodrig) January 12, 2018
I have a Master’s degree
I’m own 3 multifamily properties.
I have lost 120 pounds.
I speak 3 languages.
Published in 2 dietetic journals.
I’m a member of Omega Psi Phi.
Apparently…
I’m from a #ShitHole country! 🇭🇹 pic.twitter.com/6Rdilwi0u3— Dwreck Ingram🇭🇹 FKA ZADDY (@IAMDWRECK) January 12, 2018
Future career in Medicine.
I can read in write in two languages.
I sit on the board of directors for a non profit I’m creating.
I’m a humanitarian & first generation children have my ❤️
Im from a #shithole country 🇸🇸 pic.twitter.com/URdrLThg8S— Nyalong (@balangchuol) January 12, 2018
– First generation Sudanese In America
-First to child of six to graduate college (September 2019 )
-future business woman & talk show host
-Content Creator
-MultiLingual
– Example to many families & people all over
From a #ShitholeCountry #shitholecountries pic.twitter.com/5FbDXQbUH1— Guyé B. ❥ (@Guyebtv) January 12, 2018
I’m a future nurse
I’m bilingual
I’m a honor student
And I came from a #shithole country!
People like me always #MakeAmericaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/VFzWePJUJF— Marv sanabria (@Marvinmolina007) January 12, 2018
I have 4 degrees
I’m a first generation to graduate with my Masters in Nursing with a 3.52 gpa
I speak two languages
I find gratitude in helping those in need
Future Nurse Practitioner
I’m a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
My family comes for a #shithole country 🇸🇱 pic.twitter.com/ZaLLPsynrP— Melaninated Beauty (@African_Kitty) January 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/pinkjonez/status/951879425397788672
Dear DT,
I’m Haitian(Proud).You might never understand it.The shithole country took down the slavery system,my shithole grandparents fought in Savanah for your independence.From your alternative galaxy to the real world, just wanna let you know that I’m a proud #Shithole citizen pic.twitter.com/QwFmHNP8HB
— Fernando ESTIMÉ (@fernandoestime) January 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/PepsiK21/status/951816836290662401
43% of immigrants from “shithole” African countries have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 33% of the overall American population.
“Nigerian-Americans, for instance, have a median household income well above the American average.”https://t.co/Vmk3vkOLyd
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) January 11, 2018
Many are students who are studying to be professionals in incredibly valuable fields, like medicine and human rights; most are bilingual (at least); all are turning a moment of shocking racism into an opportunity to celebrate their backgrounds, history and countries.
Meanwhile, the political landscape in the US continues to reel from Trump’s comments – though it’s unlikely that this will be the ludicrous straw that breaks the camel’s back, it sure feels like we’re snowballing rapidly to a breaking point in the American government. And then there’s this disheartening fact:
This is apparently the first time the word “shithole” has ever appeared in the NYT. Thanks, Trump. https://t.co/EXP41N8Dc6
— felix salmon (@felixsalmon) January 11, 2018
That’s gotta count for something.
