The 2017 annual meeting of the College Conference on Computers and Composition was held in Portland, OR, 15–18 March at the Oregon Convention Center. This is the Saturday keynote from José Antonio Vargas, journalist.
Everyone getting excited for @joseiswriting? #4c17
— NCTE CCCC (@NCTE_CCCC) March 18, 2017
Someone's webmail up for a moment on a side screen in the keynote space . . . #4C17
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Really interesting start to talk, speaking to audience of (mostly white) teachers, deftly self-deprecating or at least playing at self-deprecating with the possible thought that audience wouldn't all expect him to speak well, or possibly priming the audience to hear a success story of a brown immigrant that done good because of all that great public schooling.
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Kicks off keynote thanking English teachers starting in 6th grade.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Thanks PBS and Charlie Rose for teaching him.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @joseiswriting says that in many ways he was raised by educators @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Teachers didn’t just support but also encouraged him in reading and thinking.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Example of different interpretations/hearings/retellings of the same comment
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Considering where someones like him fit in country where many see only Black and White.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Where do people like us [Fillipino, in particular] fit in this black and white dynamic? — @joseiswriting #4C17
— Josh Wood (@thatjoshwood) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @joseiswriting asks where people who look like him belong in a nation divided by black and white @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican “. . . this green card — by the way, it’s not green . . ."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Found out grandfather had bought green card for +$4000 and it was fakey.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Teacher said he asked too many annoying questions, so he should consider Journalism.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Self-perception as appropriately ‘here’ by writing, speaking, being present and visible.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
"From the beginning, writing was my way of resisting…of saying 'I exist.'" —@joseiswriting #4C17
— Josh Wood (@thatjoshwood) March 18, 2017
"Writing was my way of rebelling" @joseiswriting #thebanmatters #4c17
— Steven Alvarez (@Chastitellez) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting always found writing to be a form of resistance, a way to say "I am here." #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting talks about how he wrote himself into existence in America by doing journalism @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
@Joseiswriting 4 the longest time writing was a way of rebelling…Becoming a journalist: A way to have my name on paper w/out papers #4C17
— Sara P. Alvarez (@sarapalvarez) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican After talking to 27 lawyers about years of “lying”, published freshman comp essay (revised, duh) in @NYTmag.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
@joseiswriting his first-year comp class turned his first autobio piece into a 4,000 word NY Times Magazine piece #4C17 pic.twitter.com/PWHBT23338
— Steven Alvarez (@Chastitellez) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Surprised that nobody from Gov was contacting him. Asked Time if he could write about why nobody was deporting him.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
No, but really, this is skin-in-the-game gonzo journalism. There didn't seem to be much audience recognition of how brave this was, possibly because he was framing it as humorous.
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Called DHS, asked “Why aren’t you deporting me?" (Now THIS is gonzo journo.)
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican “We as a country are addicted to cheap labor.” Sign at the mexican border: “Keep Out” Sign inside USA: “Help wanted"
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Why don’t we talk about undocumented Africans and Caribbeans, who face higher rates of detention and deportation?
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican talking not about undoc Koreans, Irish.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting draws the connection between his 2012 Time cover and Ellen's 1997 one. #4C17 pic.twitter.com/CCGAq8WFJv
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @DefineAmerican Learned he was gay from AOL chat rooms. (LOL)
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting notes that the term "illegal" is often inaccurate. Not having documents is not criminal @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
Once I saw others using @joseiswriting for attributions, I switched as well. Later, though, on that account, he said to follow @DefineAmerican. Given his increased precarity, he may be trying to keep down traffic on his individual account.
#4c17 (shifting to citing @joseiswriting)
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting emphasizes the complexity of immigration: families are mixed status, individual immigration status is often fluid. #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting notes that we don't refer to any other group of people as "illegal." Drunk drivers are "drunk" not "illegal" NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting “I have paid so much in taxes I should be a Republican!"
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Undocumented workers help keep Social Security solvent, contributing $B to it.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
I'm happy to pay my share but while we do that can you not talk about us like we're insects on your back? – @joseiswriting #4c17
— Josh Wood (@thatjoshwood) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting says that social security department still demands people with fake social security numbers pay taxes @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting 40% of undocumented ppl overstayed a visa, meaning they never crossed border against regs.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Friend said “You don’t bring facts to a culture war."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Love @joseiswriting's reminder that "we need to start asking better questions." All of us. (Liberals too) #4c17
— Kristin Arola (@kristinarola) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting “Diversity is not only reality, it’s destiny."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting 850 events in 48 states for Define American, struck by how little White Americans know about their own migration story.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting has been shocked by how little white Americans know about their own immigration stories. #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting getting into habit of asking White people where they are from. “White is not a country."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
So, @joseiswriting asks white people, no, where are you FROM-from? White isn't a country. #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
says, all non-indigenous ppl in the US should be able to answer, where are you from? How did you get here? Who paid? #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
Unless native/African American, everyone should be able to answer: where'd you come from, how'd you get here, who paid? #4C17 @joseiswriting
— Josh Wood (@thatjoshwood) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting echoing @HarshaWalia by asking, why do people need to move? Who is responsible for the causes of migration? #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting notes ppl coming from Central American lands where we are supporting gov violence are refugees, not immigrants.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Why is it when white peoples move it's manifest destiny…When we move, is it a crime? @joseiswriting #4C17
— Josh Wood (@thatjoshwood) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Majority of migrants moving to countries that previously colonized (etc.) them.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting “We are here because you were there."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Not sure whether I misheard or whether he in fact included both notions of corporations and products. (My money's on the former.)
#4C17 @joseiswriting Why can corporations move more easily than people? (Me: USA law saying corps = people is all kinds of perverse.)
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting also asks why corporate goods can move more easily than people.#4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
These things were all legal… legality is a matter of power, not justice @joseiswriting #4C17 pic.twitter.com/ns26gOkTLk
— Amy Patterson (@amycep) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Native Americans did not gain citizenship rights until 1924.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting “There’s a special place in heaven for good immigration lawyers."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Lawyers advised him to just stay in California and drive places, no flying.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Been doxxed by White Nationalist orgs, so currently no permanent addresss.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @joseiswriting says that his lawyers advised him to stop traveling after travel ban; no longer has permanent address @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting (How horrible is that?)
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Asked by Pelosi to be at SOTU. She knew what she was doing, he knew it too.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting's lawyers discouraged him from going to 45's first address to congress as Pelosi's guest, but he went anyway. #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @joseiswriting says that @repjohnlewis said "it looks like you got yourself into some good necessary trouble" upon meeting @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Published self-described clickbait headline about going to SOTU as undoc. Real story is that undoc ppl SHOW UP.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting As undocumented immigrants show up, How are you showing up for us?
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but something other than silence. Lots of laughs for the laugh lines, but not much cultural ability to reply to the challenge line enthusiastically.
#4C17 @joseiswriting (Whole lotta silence . . .)
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Bill O'Reilly said that @joseiswriting didn't "deserve" to be here. But what did he do to deserve it? Get born in the right place? #4C17
— Kelly (@kellymce) March 18, 2017
Bill O'Reilly told @joseiswriting, I'm glad they haven't deported you, but you don't deserve to be here. #4c17
— Aaron Kashtan (@aaronkashtan) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Undoc Americans showing what it means to be an American, in tradition of other marginalized groups.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Equality under the law is also about dignity. What are you doing to earn your citizenship? @joseiswriting #4c17
— Josh Wood (@thatjoshwood) March 18, 2017
#4c17 "I am an American; I'm just waiting for my country to recognize it." @joseiswriting @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
The first question was from a cat who did a little tapdance about #NotAllWhiteAmericans and then said "But what can we do?" (My paraphrase.)
#4C17 @joseiswriting Q&A time. (Nice subtweet to first questioner.)
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 @joseiswriting calls on educators to help society move past conversations about good and bad immigrants. @NCTE_CCCC
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting Resource: https://t.co/nmMkAoWaWr
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Creating a space where students feel they can talk about immigration, without feeling forced to @joseiswriting #4c17
— Josh Wood (@thatjoshwood) March 18, 2017
So like I'm not the only one weeping and laughing and weeping more during @joseiswriting's keynote, right? My makeup is trashed. #4c17
— Kristin Arola (@kristinarola) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting “By the way, I’m a job creator."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4c17 Awesome question about @joseiswriting's use of humor & whether he needs to use it when speaking to mostly white crowds.
— Aaron Kashtan (@aaronkashtan) March 18, 2017
"I've been uncomfortable since I was 16; I'm just sharing that discomfort" @joseiswriting @NCTE_CCCC #4c17
— Spencer J Smith (@Spencealot) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting “I used to say in front of audiences that I was the most privileged undocumented immigrant in America."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting “I stopped doing that after the election."
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting hasn’t seen his mom in 24 years.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting asked what gives him joy.
Naming mentors and models. Being mostly free of fear about deportation. (Not fear *from*.)— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
"What gives me joy is agency." @joseiswriting #undocujoy #4c17 #thebanmatters
— Steven Alvarez (@Chastitellez) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting: What gives me joy is agency. I write my story, shape my narrative #4c17
— Amy Patterson (@amycep) March 18, 2017
.@joseiswriting: I control my life. No papers, no presidency, does that #4c17
— Amy Patterson (@amycep) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting on TV and anchor sez “You haven’t fixed this thing (his immigration status) yet?” pic.twitter.com/wrFt5Aakqq
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
#4C17 @joseiswriting takeaway: d/l the factsheet from https://t.co/iHNmHFyoX1 , share it, get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
— Trip Kirkpatrick (@triplingual) March 18, 2017
Thank you @joseiswriting. Your keynote was the most transformative and beautiful and funny and serious thing I've seen in a long time. #4C17 https://t.co/feZZoGAGqY
— Asao B. Inoue (@AsaoBInoue) March 18, 2017
I use @joseiswriting work in my class of undocu students. I use it bc he's inspiring and bc #thebanmatters #nowall @NCTE_CCCC #4C17
— Dr. Chingona (@drchingona) March 18, 2017