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The Realities of the Green Card
 21st may 2007   

About 3 years ago, I attended a talk on American Culture at the United States International University (USIU), Nairobi. The talk was presented by a visiting lady Professor from the United States University, San Diego. It was mainly on the cultural differences between Africans and Kenyans particularly compared to that of Americans. One similarity that came to the fore is that Kenyans and Americans are a masculine society. Men are in other words the domineering gender, in the society in both cases. This in particular leaves Hillary Rodham Clinton in a precarious position, as she continues seeking the American presidency. But perhaps, the situation has changed overtime.

Meanwhile, the Professor who was guest to one, who teaches management in USIU, detailed many other views related to the American culture, work ethic included. This society notably operates at a very high pace compared to Kenyans. The visiting Professor wondered how Kenyans actually make a living, given their more than slow pace of doing things, movement included. Individualism on the other hand featured prominently amongst Americans. Every body minds his/her business at the expense of societal cohesion.

Time in America is highly valued compared to African time which is said to be valued in terms of events.  Maybe, that explains why we talk of African and Englishman’s time. It was also detailed how the Americans posses a high level of uncertainty avoidance. They are high risk takers who question anything about everything. It is no wonder they have their own way of making rain when it fails. Even their level of Technological Development is very high compared with most of other countries.

What was of greatest concern to me however was continuous encouragement of Africans, Kenyans, included to migrate to the US through the Green Card arrangements. I sought to know why this Green Card is so pronounced these days. This matter unbelievably attracted so much interest from all the participants. The observations were equally interesting. The Professor narrated how the African Americans who are pedigrees of the famous and inhuman slave trade were expected to continue being the providers of labor, in the land of the plenty. But, by virtual of being citizens by birth, they are entitled to stipend whenever out of work. Consequently they may not need to put so much effort to earn their daily bread.

Interestingly, there are innumerable employment and business opportunities available to the locals in America. But, it is apparent, that these natives of African origin appear to be continually haunted by the experiences of their descendants, during the slave trade. Perhaps, this leads to their glaring dislike for work. The education system on the other hand caters for every citizen who cares to learn. Unfortunately, the attitude of African Americans towards education is ridiculous.  According to the professor, we learnt that these brothers of ours wonder around “whether one is getting educated to become white,” or what, whenever they notice any one of them taking keen interest in education. Those who are soft hearted and are apparently the majority concede, therefore losing interest in furthering excellence through education.

With the African Americans disinterest in education and work in particular, the white business community, farmers included suffer irredeemably from shortage of human labour. There are no farm hands of American origin to work in the vast ranches that feed the huge Union of States. They have to make do with emigrants from the South, particularly Mexico. This labour inadequacy has made the Americans to outsource manually oriented services from other countries, Kenya included.

These same Americans came up with African Growth Opportunities Act sometimes back, to enable them outsource labour directly from the resource countries themselves. Based on this act, willing or is it qualifying countries are encouraged to develop industries specifically for producing goods destined for the American market. Kenya as a country has participated in this arrangement particularly in the garment manufacturing industry.  The export processing zone (EPZ) survives mostly on the basis of these arrangements. Malaysia is one country which has developed immensely through manufacturing under license for American Companies. Even China with a large proportion of skilled human labor enjoys unprecedented opportunities of manufacturing for American companies. It is no wonder that China now belongs to the category of Americans most favored Nations (MFNS), particularly given the increasing trade links between the two.

In the meantime, not all services can be outsourced externally. Labor must be found at whatever cost to do what machines cannot do in America. With the stubbornness of our American brothers, solutions had to be found. It is in this regard that the Green card was introduced. The basic idea was and still is meant to achieve what cannot be acquired through going back to the old time slavery.

The labour efforts withheld by our long lost brothers have to be recouped somehow. Sadly, only a few cases of the green card beneficiaries, manage to get white collar jobs. Those who do enter the club of victims of brain drain. The majority undertake manual and sometimes dirty jobs that they cannot do back home. It is no wonder that the visitors get to work so hard to make ends meet. Many of them as is documented, work for as many as 18 hours, only to meet their bills. Could it be a strategy of continually retaining their labour?

On the other hand, the American authorities turn a blind eye on any illegal immigrants, until they engage in irregularities. They can engage in hide and seek game for many years. It is no wonder that they are considered to be the main source of labor. Without legal immigration papers, employment opportunities for these people are limited to menials only. Conversely, those who proceed to America for further studies take years on end to complete. A degree course, which would take four years at home to complete, takes 3 or 4 times the number of years. This happens because the students have to juggle between working for survival and learning at the same time. Others never complete studies and hang around for the rest of their lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have nothing against migrating to the land of opportunities. It is inevitable however that we discuss the good and the bad about this phenomenon. If ¾ of the time and efforts that our emigrant brothers and sisters put in America are converted in our own country, we would have similar opportunities at home. The difference between that country and ours is that their entrepreneurship culture is well embedded in the society.

This society is born into entrepreneurship. They continue creating employment opportunities endlessly, resulting to shortage of labor. Work culture is also well embraced. It appears that they live to work and not otherwise. They value time enormously. I pray that current entrepreneurship and business development interventions work in our own country. There may be no more self imposed modern enslavement through the Green Card.

Our able ladies and gentlemen will live and work and enjoy the fruits of labor in our own motherland. They will not need to go to adopt new high paced cultures that cause themselves untold stress. There will be plenty to do at home. It is further notable that, once happy spouses have parted company courtesy of opportunities in the land of plenty. This has led to many social widows and widowers. Has this not caused disruption of our family values?

You, who could be thinking of emigrating, re-consider the idea. Embrace entrepreneurship concepts and ideas. Forget the pre-occupation of getting rich quick, which has brought untold suffering to our dear country. After that, you will be on your path to well deserved riches. The writer wishes you a rewarding entrepreneurship future. Be part of the strategy of delivering vision 2030   

The writer is a management and Entrepreneurship Consultant for  Newtimes Business Solutions

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