Citizens By Choice

By C.J. Hirschfield

Three years ago, Children’s Fairyland was approached by the federal government with an offer we just couldn’t refuse. Could we host a special citizenship ceremony, one solely for young children? Faster than you can say “happily ever after,“ we were in, agreeing to provide a day’s worth of fun for the families afterward too. Our Aesop’s Playhouse was packed with family members and well-wishers; there was music, speakers, an oath, as well as some tears, including my own. Twenty children, ages 3-9, from nine different countries were sworn in. We loved it. We repeated it the next year, and are so happy to say that we will be hosting the event once again, in July.

With Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf looking on, a new U.S. citizen, born in Nigeria, reads the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2017 children's naturalization ceremony held at Children's Fairyland.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ San Francisco Field Office explained that while adults and teens typically have ceremonies dedicated to them, it’s far less common for the younger kids to have a celebration of their own. Oakland’s Paramount Theatre holds two naturalization ceremonies for adults every month, swearing in approximately 1000 at each event. I’ve been to a couple, and they are both beautiful and inspiring.

The 2017 children's naturalization ceremony at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California.

When I was asked last week if I would be interested in being a featured speaker at one of the adult ceremonies next week, I couldn’t say no. But I did request that a box of tissues be available at the podium, just in case.

My remarks should be less than five minutes, and should not be political. I will be speaking to immigrants representing 80 different nations. I intend to tell the story of my immigrant grandfather Morris Hirschfield, who came to America from what was then Austria-Hungary right around the turn of the last century when he was only 16. He sailed alone, came through Ellis Island, and settled in the Lower East Side of New York, which was both the center of the nation’s garment production, and a focus of its immigrant life.

Anna and Morris Hirschfield, 1923

If you’ve ever visited the Tenement Museum in New York and taken the Sweatshop Workers’ tour, you’ll see how my grandfather lived, working as a tailor. He later started his own garment district operation, and when automobiles became a thing, he made his living by selling used cars. He and my grandmother, who was from the same town in Europe, never attended college, but all of their kids—and grandkids—did. As it turns out, it was a good thing they left the old country, because in World War II they lost nearly every family member to the Nazis.

My other grandfather was born in England.
My in-laws were both born in the Czech Republic.
You get the idea.

I’m still working on my remarks, but I think I know what the ending will be like.

Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, with over 27% of our residents foreign-born.

Our diversity is our strength; what our mayor calls part of the “secret sauce” that makes our city great.

I work in a storybook theme park—I understand the power of stories. Each of you Americans by choice have a very special story; you’ve worked toward this day for years. Share your stories, your talents, and your dreams with us; we’ll be better for it. Now you can vote, serve on a jury, and even run for office—and I hope you’ll take full advantage of these and so many more opportunities that will be open to you.

We see you, we welcome you, we thank you, we love you.

(Pass that box of tissues) and congratulations!

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C.J. Hirschfield has served for 17 years as executive director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation of the nation’s oldest storybook theme park.