The Quran that my father brought with him when he immigrated to the U.S. is the most important object in his life, he says. He expressed that he always kept his faith strong through it, saying it never led him astray and guided him in making the right decisions. This holy book represents not only his personal beliefs but also the preservation of his/our cultural and religious identity in a new country. Watching the “Sociological Imagination” video helped me understand that my father’s experience with his faith is part of a larger story; how immigrants maintain their tradition and walk through life in a new society. In addition, I believe that keeping our treasured items or belongings with us, even in an unfamiliar environment, can provide comfort and a connection to our past “life”. I can imagine why people may bring objects from their previous life as they help maintain identity and continuity in a new place where they may feel homesick. The video also showed me that personal experiences, like my father’s devotion to his faith, are created by larger social, cultural, and historical efforts. It helped me see that objects, stories, and tradition or culture are not just personal, they connect individual lives to larger societal contexts.

– SM

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant