I’m really tripping over this essay prompt: “Who is a refugee?”

Should I just attach a photo of the denizens of Utica, NY
Also I don’t know who needs to hear this but stop saying “the Bosnians cleaned up east Utica,” that’s doubly racist because you’re reducing people to their utility and also insinuating something about everyone else who lives in East Utica, esp. Black and brown folks in Corn Hill
Also let’s talk about how everyone is like 😍 refugees saved this declining Rust Belt city 😍 because they provide cheap labor and don’t need much 😍 actually yes we do. Give our communities better workplace conditions and benefits and better funded and resourced schools
Also stop using the concept of good and productive refugees as the only metric of diversity and vibrancy and as a wedge at the cost of Black, Native, and brown non-refugee communities that are systemically ignored, underfunded, and frankly looked down upon
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