--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents immigrated to this country…" description: "\"My parents immigrated to this country from Jamaica with no more than a fifth-grade education.\" — Wayne Messam" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/wayne-messam-10964_country_my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-fr_2975901.jpg" --- # My parents immigrated to this country from Jamaica with no… ![“My parents immigrated to this country from Jamaica with no more than a fifth-grade education.” quote by Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/wayne-messam-10964_country_my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-fr_2975901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/wayne-messam-10964_country_my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-fr_2975901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/wayne-messam-10964_country_my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-fr_2975901.jpg) > “My parents immigrated to this country from Jamaica with no more than a fifth-grade education.” [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shows how immigrant families often succeed despite limited formal education, emphasizing determination and community support. **In simple terms:** Immigrants thrive with perseverance and help. Key Takeaway Value hard work and community aid. Themes immigration education social mobility Mood optimistic reflective Type social motivational When to use this quote - community programs - scholarships - mentorship - entrepreneurship Key Concepts Socioeconomic uplift family resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does education level affect immigrant success? - What resources aid upward mobility? A Different Perspective May oversimplify systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Jamaica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jamaica/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) ## Related quotes > [ 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/) > [It's such an honor to just represent the U.S. in the country where my parents immigrated from, and just this whole process has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/it-s-such-an-honor-to-just-represent-the-u-s-in-the-country-where-my/) [Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/) > [My parents immigrated from Italy and spent 40 days and 40 stinking nights on a boat so we didn't have to eat things like gizzards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-giosia/my-parents-immigrated-from-italy-and-spent-40-days-and-40-stinking/) [Nadia Giosia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-giosia/) > [My parents immigrated to California from Mexico in the 1960s in search of a better life. They arrived from different regions of Mexico with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/my-parents-immigrated-to-california-from-mexico-in-the-1960s-in/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [My parents immigrated to the United States with $10 in their pocket and a belief that the America they had heard about really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-love/my-parents-immigrated-to-the-united-states-with-10-in-their-pocket/) [Mia Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-love/) > [I went to a predominantly African-American school. I didn't even understand our immigration system. I knew my parents immigrated here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-tlaib/i-went-to-a-predominantly-african-american-school-i-didn-t-even/) [Rashida Tlaib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-tlaib/) > [My parents, Santos and Lupe Padilla, immigrated separately from Mexico and met in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. It was love at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/my-parents-santos-and-lupe-padilla-immigrated-separately-from-mexico/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [In 1881, my dad's grandparents, who were Norwegian farmers, immigrated to the United States - the same year my great grandfather from Laguna Pueblo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-haaland/in-1881-my-dad-s-grandparents-who-were-norwegian-farmers-immigrated/) [Deb Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-haaland/) > [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/) > [Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they faced, from learning the language to dealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/most-americans-have-parents-or-grandparents-who-immigrated-to-this/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [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 immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But I'm still very, very close to my culture and - back home in Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old-to-toronto-but-i-m-still/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the United States with my family when I was 4. I spent most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-shih/i-was-born-in-hong-kong-and-immigrated-to-the-united-states-with-my/) [Clara Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-shih/) > [When I first immigrated to the United States, there were not many jobs that stood out. So I worked at a gas station, cleaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/do-won-chang/when-i-first-immigrated-to-the-united-states-there-were-not-many-jobs/) [Do Won Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/do-won-chang/) > [My family immigrated when I was 3, and our predecessors inhabited the Korean Peninsula for as long as can be recalled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/my-family-immigrated-when-i-was-3-and-our-predecessors-inhabited-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) ## More by Wayne Messam > [Until we address the pervasive structural and interpersonal threats facing communities of color, we will remain unequipped to make equity a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/until-we-address-the-pervasive-structural-and-interpersonal-threats/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Young people across the country have grown up traumatized by the gun violence epidemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/young-people-across-the-country-have-grown-up-traumatized-by-the-gun/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [I see that that 'American dream' is slipping away because we're not solving the problems of today, we're not planning for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/i-see-that-that-american-dream-is-slipping-away-because-we-re-not/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Black Americans have organized all across this country because we have an unequal justice system, not because anyone demands special privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/black-americans-have-organized-all-across-this-country-because-we/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Wayne Messam does not have any financial problems and is a classic American Success Story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/wayne-messam-does-not-have-any-financial-problems-and-is-a-classic/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Our kids fear going to school in the morning, and their parents worry whether they will come home safely at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/our-kids-fear-going-to-school-in-the-morning-and-their-parents-worry/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [What does Washington experience have to do with meeting the needs of the American people?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/what-does-washington-experience-have-to-do-with-meeting-the-needs-of/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [I do not believe that the best ideas come from Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/i-do-not-believe-that-the-best-ideas-come-from-washington/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [It is morally wrong for this country to require our citizens to take on tens of thousands of dollars of debt to achieve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/it-is-morally-wrong-for-this-country-to-require-our-citizens-to-take/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Everyday people are graduating from universities with crippling debt, stifling their opportunity for financial mobility, that is what's broken with this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/everyday-people-are-graduating-from-universities-with-crippling-debt/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [When you think about the progress and the progressive issues we are tackling and solving in Miramar, I'm looking to take these issues nationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/when-you-think-about-the-progress-and-the-progressive-issues-we-are/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [I'm sensitive to the resources needed by a small business to get started and keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/i-m-sensitive-to-the-resources-needed-by-a-small-business-to-get/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Black lives matter' doesn't mean that all lives do not matter, rather it is a cry for equal treatment in the greater circle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/black-lives-matter-doesn-t-mean-that-all-lives-do-not-matter-rather/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [I feel that this nation should open its doors to any person that would like to contribute to this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/i-feel-that-this-nation-should-open-its-doors-to-any-person-that/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Miramar took jobs away from China; usually the jobs leave the U.S. and go to China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/miramar-took-jobs-away-from-china-usually-the-jobs-leave-the-u-s-and/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) [Explore all 62 Wayne Messam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My parents immigrated to this country from Jamaica with no more than a fifth-grade education.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wayne Messam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-from-jamaica-with-no-more-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-from-jamaica-with-no-more-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/wayne-messam-10964_country_my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-fr_2975901.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/wayne-messam-10964_country_my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-fr_2975901.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/wayne-messam-10964_country_my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-fr_2975901.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My parents immigrated to this country from Jamaica with no more than a fifth-grade education.” — Wayne Messam", "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": "Wayne Messam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My parents immigrated to this country...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-from-jamaica-with-no-more-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/my-parents-immigrated-to-this-country-from-jamaica-with-no-more-than/#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 } } ] } ```