--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most Americans have parents or…" description: "\"Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they faced, from learning the language to dealing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/hank-johnson-23887_american_most-americans-have-parents-or-grandpare_1531540.png" --- # Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated… ![“Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they faced, from learning the language to dealing with prejudice.” quote by Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/hank-johnson-23887_american_most-americans-have-parents-or-grandpare_1531540.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/hank-johnson-23887_american_most-americans-have-parents-or-grandpare_1531540.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/hank-johnson-23887_american_most-americans-have-parents-or-grandpare_1531540.png) > “Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they faced, from learning the language to dealing with prejudice.” [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s immigrant families faced language barriers and prejudice, shaping the nation’s cultural fabric and highlighting the need for empathy. **In simple terms:** Immigrants endured hardship and prejudice. Key Takeaway Recognize and support immigrant contributions. Themes immigration hardship prejudice culture Mood empathetic inspirational Type political social commentary When to use this quote - education - community outreach - legislative reform - media representation Key Concepts social history policy human rights Questions to Reflect On - How can we better support immigrant families today? - What policies reduce prejudice against newcomers? A Different Perspective It may simplify diverse immigrant experiences into a single narrative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Grandparent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandparent/) [Grandparents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandparents/) [Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship/) [Hardships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardships/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [I think immigration has been one of the vital things about the growth of America. I'm the product of grandparents who all immigrated from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/i-think-immigration-has-been-one-of-the-vital-things-about-the-growth/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge You may not know the hardships people don't speak of It's best to step back, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru/actions-have-reactions-don-t-be-quick-to-judge-you-may-not-know-the-2/) Guru > [I know the hardships that my compatriots working abroad are facing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/i-know-the-hardships-that-my-compatriots-working-abroad-are-facing/) [Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/) > [Like tens of millions of Americans, my parents were immigrants. They were poor and did not speak English well. They went to flea markets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/like-tens-of-millions-of-americans-my-parents-were-immigrants-they/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [“Finding the reason to live doesn't put you on top, it's the hardships faced in process that get you there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-kumar-puli/finding-the-reason-to-live-doesn-t-put-you-on-top-it-s-the-hardships/) [Sachin Kumar Puli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-kumar-puli/) > [“Courage was no that hard to come by for children. No matter the hardships they faced, given a little love and encouragement, their spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-littlefield/courage-was-no-that-hard-to-come-by-for-children-no-matter-the/) [Sophie Littlefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-littlefield/) > [Obviously there are many, many ways of being an outsider, but having immigrant parents is one of them. For one thing, it makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/obviously-there-are-many-many-ways-of-being-an-outsider-but-having/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [Americans who have parents raised during the Great Depression or World War II understand how drastically things have changed on the home front. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/americans-who-have-parents-raised-during-the-great-depression-or/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“Because I realize that the hardships I faced in my formative years are the foundation of my strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-mary-kom/because-i-realize-that-the-hardships-i-faced-in-my-formative-years/) [M.C. Mary Kom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-mary-kom/) > [My parents immigrated to this country from Jamaica with no more than a fifth-grade education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-from-jamaica-with-no-more-than/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [I don't know that I would have the courage to come over to a new country where the religion is different, the language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gratz/i-don-t-know-that-i-would-have-the-courage-to-come-over-to-a-new/) [Alan Gratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gratz/) > [ We're different men \[with Donald Trump\], different life experiences. But I've always been struck by our common heritage. His grandfather immigrated to this country… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/we-re-different-men-with-donald-trump-different-life-experiences-but/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [There should not be a question of legal or illegal immigration. People came and immigrated to this country from the time of the Indians.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/there-should-not-be-a-question-of-legal-or-illegal-immigration-people/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Lyndon Johnson faced some clear moral issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/lyndon-johnson-faced-some-clear-moral-issues/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I have always faced challenges in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-adityanath/i-have-always-faced-challenges-in-my-life/) [Yogi Adityanath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-adityanath/) ## More by Hank Johnson > [Billionaires like the Koch brothers, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, and political puppet master Karl Rove should not be able to buy our elections. Secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/billionaires-like-the-koch-brothers-casino-mogul-sheldon-adelson-and/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Don't let proud get to your head, always humble yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/don-t-let-proud-get-to-your-head-always-humble-yourself/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The benefits and $174,000 per year salary that we get, we earn. It's not elaborate, it's just a bunch of poppycock that a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-benefits-and-174-000-per-year-salary-that-we-get-we-earn-it-s-not/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The rising costs of higher education coupled with the stress of paying student loans are putting increasing pressure on students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-rising-costs-of-higher-education-coupled-with-the-stress-of/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The military is a machine of war. Not a law enforcement agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-military-is-a-machine-of-war-not-a-law-enforcement-agency/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [As Americans, we have the right to decide who lives within our borders, and we can't let unscrupulous employers to undercut honest business owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide-who-lives-within-our-borders/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/my-fear-is-that-the-whole-island-will-become-so-overly-populated-that/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Programs like food stamps, unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and job retraining help Americans get back on their feet when they are down and out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/programs-like-food-stamps-unemployment-insurance-medicaid-and-job/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Because Social Security has not contributed to our debt, Americans should be skeptical of any politician who says that benefits Americans have earned must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/because-social-security-has-not-contributed-to-our-debt-americans/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [America deserves common sense immigration reform that reflects our interests and our values as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/america-deserves-common-sense-immigration-reform-that-reflects-our/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Social Security is not just another government spending program. It is a promise from generation to generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/social-security-is-not-just-another-government-spending-program-it-is/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [We need a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to control the so-called free speech rights of corporations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/we-need-a-constitutional-amendment-to-allow-the-legislature-to/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [I agree with President Roosevelt, and generations since, that American seniors deserve better than poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/i-agree-with-president-roosevelt-and-generations-since-that-american/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [As more government functions are privatized, we find political leaders defunding the public school system, shifting government funds to the private, for-profit school industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/as-more-government-functions-are-privatized-we-find-political-leaders/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The American people have a right to know the source of the money that is being spent. They should be told who is behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-american-people-have-a-right-to-know-the-source-of-the-money-that/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) [Explore all 25 Hank Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they faced, from learning the language to dealing with prejudice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hank Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/most-americans-have-parents-or-grandparents-who-immigrated-to-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/most-americans-have-parents-or-grandparents-who-immigrated-to-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/hank-johnson-23887_american_most-americans-have-parents-or-grandpare_1531540.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/hank-johnson-23887_american_most-americans-have-parents-or-grandpare_1531540.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/hank-johnson-23887_american_most-americans-have-parents-or-grandpare_1531540.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they…” — Hank Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hank Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most Americans have parents or grandparents...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/most-americans-have-parents-or-grandparents-who-immigrated-to-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/most-americans-have-parents-or-grandparents-who-immigrated-to-this/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```