Yes I Am (American) - Malini D. Sur

"Yes I Am (American)." Words and music by Malini D. Sur. Vocals and guitar by Malini D. Sur. Additional guitar by Jacques Aboaf. Sound engineered and produced by Dorian Wolff. Video footage by Sagar Parikh. All photos found through www.images.google.com and may be subjected to copyright.

www.myspace.com/malinidsur

Lyrics: They came by the way of the Bering Strait not knowing their way or what would be their fate. Some rode across the Atlantic waves aboard the Mayflower or a ship of slaves. Mine came by way of an aeroplane. You see, the common ground is that they stayed. What is our origin, I ask? Does it lie in the present or the past? I remember when I was a girl a missionary asked me: Do you know the English tongue? Do you know Jesus? And I said...

Yes I am an American, and my skin is brown. I am an American with a name you can pronounce. Yes I am an American, born in this here town. I am an American, I've nothing to renounce.

Now first there were dreams of Utopia. Then came the footsteps to make it stronger. Thank God for the blood that was shed for us. Some marched and some took seats on a bus. Much of the work was already done. You see, the towers fell and fables spun. And then a senator spoke of hope. I wept in joy for a broken rope. But in Arizona 2010 the law of the land changed: Who are you and do you belong? You're lookin' like you are strange. And they said...

Yes I am an American, the books don't make it true. I am an American, my heart's red, white, and blue. Yes I am an American, as God-fearing as you. I am an American, I sing for freedom too.

This land isn't our land anymore than one can own a man...

I believe in a better world where we face each other. We'll remember what it was like for our forefathers, and we'll say...

Yes I am an American, I'll shout it all around. I am an American, I'll stand and I'll annouce. Yes I am an American, I work in this here town. I am an American, I've nothing to renounce. Yes I am an American, the books don't make it true. I am an American, my heart's red, white, and blue. Yes I am an American, as God-fearing as you. I am an American, I sing for freedom too, I sing for freedom too, I sing for freedom too.

Photos:
0:28 Sitting Bull. 0:35 Navajo family. 0:44 Norwegian immigrants. 0:52 Virginian slave family, 1862. 0:58 European, Mexican, South Asian, and East Asian immigrants to America. 2:02 LB Johnson signs Immigration Act of 1965. 2:08 Statue of Liberty. 2:23 Constitutional convention. 2:31 A Lincoln. 2:43 Civil rights march. 2:46 R Parks and ML King. 2:50 R Kennedy. 2:53 T Marshall with Doll experiment. 3:04 B Obama with woman, grandfather, boy. 3:17 J Brewer. 3:26 Arizona SB1070 protesters. 3:44 Japanese Americans. 3:58 Grant Park, November 4 2008. 4:00 Y Ma at Inauguration 2008. 4:04 American signs. 4:39 Masuda family sign in Oakland, CA after Pearl Harbor, photo by D Lange. 4:46 American children pledge allegiance, photo by D Lange. 4:53 Early Latino and South Asian immigrants. 4:55 F Thompson and family, photo by D Lange. 5:00 J Meredith approaches Univesity of Mississippi, 1962, photo by Trikosko. 5:03 Elesheba Khan rests on son's grave, photo by Platon. 5:07 Protesters. 5:17 Empire State Building, NY. 5:20 Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple, CA. Malibu Hindu Temple, CA. Central Synagogue, NY. St Patrick's Cathedral, NY. 5:30 Marian Anderson. Woody Guthrie. 5:33 Abel Meeropol. Billie Holiday. 5:37 Joni Mitchell. Bob Dylan. Bernice Johnson Reagon. Pete Seeger. Bruce Springsteen. 5:42 Katie Leap, Crawford School of Irish Dance, UT. Anica Law, Harvard Traditional Chinese Dance Troupe. Saritha Komatireddy, Harvard South Asian Association. Polish American Dancers. American Ballet Theatre. Parul Shah Dance Company. Harvard Fuerza Latina. Brothers and Sisters of Kuumba. Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe. American Ballet Theatre. Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, photo by Snow.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• yes i am
• american
• anthem
• malini
• d.
• sur
• arizona
• 2010
• immigration
• sb1070
• protest
• song
• south
• asian

[loneliest1]

love ur song, made me cry, only ppl going through this know what its turly like, everyone else thinks its so easy..they have no clue whats worse they dont jusdge for themselves they judge based on what they hear or are taught to instead of investigating, im tired of being judged by ppl who have no clue what really is going on. girl props and respects to u.

[gppceo]

beautiful track - nice job - great images - nice home video work - sterling classic - a keeper

[Smileyyy21]

I love the song but does this mean open borders for all!!!

[martefaro]

Your song sends a great message. I will be sharing it with my son who is also a poet. You can see his work on youtube Fausto Rojas Singing. We look forward to hearing more of your music.

[anareyes01]

stop being so mean! lol its a great song for great ppl

[PatriotSue]

You are not an American, if you are an ILLEGAL ALIEN. No matter how you twist it.

[stingingtruth]

Gooood sonngggggggggggggggggggggggggg­ggggggg

[1caravantes]

Get it girl! i love it :) Its amazing

[arnabsur1990]

hi malini ...this is arnab sur...u may not know me...but i am related to u ....amit sur is my "jethu" ...am son of tarak nath sur......

anyways so ..i wanted to tel u that i watched ur video...and i wanted to let u know that i really appreciate it...so ya

[Rebeccainca]

Beautiful...calling all my local radio stations tomorrow and requesting it...Can't find it on I Tunes...