Southern University: Hip-Hop & Politics

Prey vs. Predator (Jailasia Anderson and Jillian Patterson)

• Eugene B. Lee-Johnson • Season 2 • Episode 5

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What happens when borders meet skin color? In our latest episode, we dive deep into the spicy intersection of race and immigration in America, exploring how these powerful social forces shape our identities and experiences in ways both visible and invisible.

Did you know that race isn't biological but a social construct that determines everything from where you can live to who clutches their purse when you walk by? We unpack how immigration reveals America's racial hierarchies, from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to today's border policies that criminalize certain immigrants while giving others a free pass. As we point out—nobody's building a wall for Canadians or setting up border checkpoints in Vermont.

For Black immigrants, America often presents a jarring identity shift. As Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie perfectly captured it: "I came to America and became Black." We explore how people who identified by tribe, nationality, or ethnicity in their home countries suddenly find themselves with the all-encompassing "Black" label in America, creating both tensions and opportunities for solidarity. While colonial mindsets have sometimes created divides between African Americans and more recent Black immigrants, we're seeing powerful movements emerge as communities recognize their shared struggles against the same systems.

The double standards are impossible to ignore—white immigrants with accents are "charming" while Black immigrants with accents face suspicion; celebrities like Drake and Rihanna (both children of immigrants) are celebrated while ordinary folks from the same countries struggle for acceptance. Race determines who gets seen as human, innocent, or American, even for third-generation citizens.

Ready to move beyond the myths and toward real solutions? Join us as we chart a path forward based on naming these systems, rejecting harmful "good immigrant vs. bad immigrant" narratives, and building solidarity across communities. Whether your ancestors arrived in chains or on a visa, we're all navigating systems that weren't built for us—which means we have the power to tear them down and rebuild something better together. Subscribe now to keep this essential conversation going.

Jillian:

Hey y'all. Welcome to Prey vs Predator, the podcast where we unpack race identity and everything in between.

Jailasia:

What's up?

Jillian:

y'all I'm.

Jailasia:

Jalasia, a lover of chaos and calling on nonsense.

Jillian:

And I'm Jillian a reader ranter and resident overthinker. Today's topic is what is race and why does immigration make it well extra spicy?

Jailasia:

So you mean, besides the fact that people think race is the same thing as ethnicity and nationality and culture, background the vibe gives off.

Jillian:

Facts Like I've had people ask me if I'm African American or just regular black.

Jailasia:

Regular black? Is that like regular coke diet black or extra bold black?

Jillian:

Honestly, I think I'm zero black, no additives, All attitude. But here's the real tea Immigration isn't just about crossing borders. It's about who gets welcome, who gets feared and who gets forgotten. Spoiler alert it's racial.

Jailasia:

Race isn't biology, it's not DNA, it's social. It's like pineapple on pizza made up, and yet people are way too emotional about it.

Jillian:

Right, Scientifically we're 99.9% the same, but socially, race shapes your zip code, your job prospect, your healthcare and where the folks clutch their purse when you walk by.

Jailasia:

Historically, race has been used to justify oppression, Like during slavery. White folks needed a reason to sleep at night, so they made up race as a hierarchy.

Jillian:

Yup, and when it came to immigration, race helped decide who was fit to be American. Ever heard of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

Jailasia:

That law said Chinese immigrants couldn't become citizens. First time in US history, we banned a group that was solely based on race.

Jillian:

Then, in the early 1900s, Ellis Island was poppin', but mostly for Europeans. Meanwhile, meanwhile, black First was still fighting Jim Crow, and and Genghis folks were being forced off their land.

Jailasia:

Fast forward to 1965. The US passed the Immigration and Nationality Act, finally ended the racist quota system that prioritized white Europeans. That's when they saw more immigrants from Asia, Africa and Latin America. And guess what?

Jillian:

As soon as that shift happened, people started panicking. Oh no, too many brown people. Same old song, just a new beat.

Jailasia:

The deferred action for childhood arrivals. Kids who are brought here have grown up American but can't get citizenship, mostly Latin, but also African and Asian immigrants affected.

Jillian:

And then there's the ICE raid and the US-Mexico border wall. Policies that criminalize immigration is based on how you look and where you're from. Ain't nobody building a wall for Canadians, though.

Jailasia:

Never seen a border patrol checkpoint in Vermont.

Jillian:

Now let's shift to the black immigrant experience. African and Caribbean immigrants often arrive in the US only to realize surprise, you're black here.

Jailasia:

Right in Americana by Chippamana Ngozi Infamulu says I came to America and became black. That line stuck with me.

Jillian:

Because here's the thing in many African countries, people identify by their tribe or nationality Igbo, yoruba or Ghanaian but in America you get the one-size-fits-all black label.

Jailasia:

And then you have tension, sometimes between African Americans and African-slash-Caribbean immigrants. Some folks come here thinking black Americans are lazy or dangerous, because that's what white supremacists taught them overseas.

Jillian:

Colonism exported anti-Blackness like it was McDonald's.

Jailasia:

But we've also seen solidarity movements grow, like African Americans protesting for immigrants' rights and African Americans standing up for the police reform here Exactly.

Jillian:

Our histories are different, but the system that tries to oppress us same devil, just a new costume.

Jailasia:

Let's bring it in today. Ever notice how a white immigrant with the accent is charming, but a black immigrant with an accent is suspicious?

Jillian:

Or how folks love Drake and Rihanna, but both children of immigrants, but won't hire their cousin from.

Jailasia:

Trinidad. Let's not forget that after 9-11, Muslim immigrants were surveilled like they were all threats. Meanwhile, white men were out here doing mass shootings and getting Burger King on the way to jail.

Jillian:

Facts Race determines who gets to be seen as human, innocent or even American. You can be a third generation Mexican-American and still be told go back to your country.

Jailasia:

Meanwhile, Chad from Canada overstayed his visa by three years and he's out here starting a kombucha business in Brooklyn.

Jillian:

So where do we go from here? First, we have to name the system. Race is a construct, but racism is real and immigration policy reflect those bias.

Jailasia:

Second, we have to reject the good immigrants versus bad immigrants myth. Your work shouldn't depend on your college degree or if you speak perfect English.

Jillian:

And third, solidarity. Black Americans and immigrants of color have more in common than we think. Whether your ancestors came in chains or on a visa, we're all navigating a system that wasn't built for us.

Jailasia:

But that means we can tear it down together and rebuild it better. Amen.

Jillian:

With equity culture and definitely more seasoning.

Jailasia:

Thanks for hanging with us on Prey vs Predator, the American edition. If you learned something new or just laughed out loud, go ahead and rate us a five star. Don't be shy.

Jillian:

And we'll be back next with more truth, more shade and more sweet tea.

Jailasia:

Stay bold, stay bold, stay black and stay brilliant. Peace reggie.