25 young people making noise for social progress
By Robin Lempel
“If you could wave a magic wand, what story would you tell?” - @MHarrisPerry
— Define American (@DefineAmerican) April 21, 2018
"I would tell my story. It’s not a story you hear often in the media: a black immigrant’s story." - @realbambadjan
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Bambadjan Bamba
Bambadjan Bamba is one of many celebrities using his platform and voice for social progress. In his case, Bamba is fighting for immigration rights by coming out as a DACA recipient in Hollywood.
The Black Panther and The Good Place actor came out as a Dreamer back in November. He had moved to the U.S. when he was 10 after a civil war started in Cote D’Ivoire.
When he started applying for colleges, he realized how hard it was to be an undocumented immigrant because he was ineligible for financial aid.
“Immigrants are not criminals,” he said. “We’re your neighbors, your doctors, the teachers of your children, and sometimes we’re on TV in your home, characters that you love. We’re just one of you. The only difference is [that you have] a certain piece of paper that’s supposed to allow you to navigate freely in the country.”
Bamba felt he had to come out as a Dreamer after Trump decided to end the DACA program. Now Bamba is working with Define America, fighting to get the Dream Act passed, and working to get more support from the entertainment industry.
“When I came out as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient, I knew it would be risky for my career. I have been able to create a life that many dream about. But seeing other DACA recipients with much less than I have risking their freedom to protest and petition for a fix to the broken immigration system gave me the courage to step forward,” he wrote.