By Mahamadou S. Toure

When immigrants arrive in the United States, we often carry only a few things: a dream, a memory, and a story. These stories are rarely recorded, yet they shape the country in ways statistics never capture. Behind every restaurant owner, taxi driver, nurse, professor, entrepreneur, or factory worker is a journey filled with courage, sacrifice, and silent resilience. These stories are not side narratives to America; they are part of America’s backbone.

Today, more than ever, immigrant stories matter for the future of this nation. They are not only testimonies of struggle; they are maps of possibility. They show what people can build when hope is stronger than fear, and when opportunity meets determination. I came to the United States many years ago with an accent, a suitcase, and the lessons my father taught me back home. Like millions of others, I learned English on the job, navigating new systems, learning new rules, and trying to understand a society that was welcoming yet complex.

Every small victory, my first paycheck, my first apartment, my first community event, became part of my story. And I realized something important: immigrants participate in America in ways that are quiet but transformative. Across neighborhoods in Columbus, and in cities all over the country, I have seen ordinary immigrants do extraordinary things. A woman from Somalia opens a daycare that preserves her language and teaches American children kindness.

A family from Nepal starts a small grocery store and introduces the entire neighborhood to spices and stories from home. A young man from West Africa begins writing books about faith, culture, and the lessons he carried from his father—sharing his roots in a place that welcomes new ideas. These contributions don’t always appear in statistics or news headlines. But they show up in daily life: in the food people taste for the first time, in businesses that become gathering places, in friendships built across culture, and in the quiet ways immigrants help make America feel more connected and human.

Many of us came here with values shaped by our parents, discipline, generosity, faith, community, and we bring these values into our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and our children’s schools. In this sense, we do not arrive empty-handed. We carry cultural memory, languages, and traditions that blend into the American story. We build futures here without erasing our past. And this combination creates something new and powerful, a bridge between continents, a dialogue between cultures. This is why immigrant stories matter: they show how roots and routes can exist together. They remind America that identity does not have to be one thing.

It can be layered, evolved, and enriched by many journeys. And when these stories are shared, whether through a small business, a family tradition, or even a book, they expand the imagination of what America can be. We live in a time of quick headlines and louder divisions, but immigrant stories slow us down. They take us from the surface to the soul. They remind us that behind every “new American” is a human being who left something behind to build something new. They remind us that diversity is not a threat; it is an inheritance. And most importantly, immigrant stories show young people, especially children born in this country, that identity is a treasure, not a burden.

When a child hears their parents’ journey, they gain pride, direction, and a sense of responsibility. They understand that they come from strength. As I write books, preserve my father’s legacy, and serve my community here in Columbus, I see immigrant stories as more than personal memories. They are a national resource. They teach values. They build empathy. They strengthen neighborhoods. They shape the next generation of leaders. If America wants a strong future, it must continue to embrace the voices that arrive from across oceans and borders. Our stories are not just stories, they are bridges, lanterns, and seeds. And when we tell them, we do not just honor our past. We help America see its future. (Mahamadou S. Toure is originally from French-speaking Mali, West Africa.)

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