Understand the life of immigrants in the U.S. The immigrant experience is different for everyone depending on why they migrated to the U.S. Many come for a better, safer life that comes with many job and learning opportunities. However, the overall experiences for immigrants are difficult due to finances, leaving family behind, racism, and so much more that comes with being a different skin color. In the book The Book of Unknown Americans, Cristina Henriquez explores those experiences I just listed through the characters in the book. Finance is one of the biggest issues immigrants face. In the book the Toro family somewhat struggled with money, as Rafael was the only one supporting the family. When Rafael thought he was going to get a job, …show more content…
Alma could imagine her parents standing in the kitchen just as she remembered it when they left, as her mother brought her up to date on the latest gossip back home. Alma stated, “but hearing it all only made me feel more disconnected from Patzcuaro, oddly disappointed to hear that life was still going on even without us there”(53). This example connects to my definition, because many immigrants have to leave their families behind. They leave behind the only life they know and don't feel whole without it. If Alma had a choice, she would have stayed in Mexico, but they had to get Maribel the help she needed. Leaving behind everyone you love is one of the most difficult aspects of migration because you have to learn to live without the people you love: their presence, their knowledge, their voice, their smell, their personalities, and so much more. The author included this in the story because it is something every immigrant goes through, and it's important to acknowledge their strengths. Many don't realize what immigrants go through and who/what they leave behind. This conversation between Alma and her mother truly shows how difficult migrating …show more content…
The officer dealing with the incident went to see Alma in the hospital to talk to her about what happened. “Officer Mora looked me in the eye ‘I’m so sorry about before,’ he said, ‘when you came to the station.’ His face was grave. "We're going to get justice for you now, though, I’ll make sure of it” (268).That word, justice, was just a word to Alma, it didn’t mean anything. This example connects to my definition because many immigrants face racism, whether it’s dirty looks, comments, or actions. Throughout the book, characters face racism everyday, which not only happens in books, but in real life. Many don’t like to face the issue of racism, and they choose to ignore it because it doesn’t affect them. However, for those that have to deal with racism, it is extremely difficult, and can cause extreme harm. The author included this in the story because oftentimes people don’t see racism as a big deal, but it is. Arturo could’ve been shot just for the fact he didn’t know English or couldn’t understand what was going on. Another key factor added was Alma saying that the word justice meant nothing to
The house that Alma currently lives in is impoverished with unfinished kitchen counters that are made of plywood. These are frequently standard living conditions for individuals that identify with a lower socio-economic status within society. Similar to her daughter Yadira, Alma and her husband Tomas are the corporate to the illegal status Yadira has inherited. The focal point that bridges the gap between legal and illegal status immigrants presents the opportunity when Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act. By enacting the previous, Tomas has the ability to attain a legal status finally and receives the necessary assistance to do so from a ranch owner who currently employs him as a ranch hand. Due to the diligence and work ethic Tomas displays, he successfully earns his green card and later applies for legal status for his wife and children (Thorpe
Many Guatemalan immigrants who arrived north to the United States, like Antonio, were fleeing from the danger and persecution of the Guatemalan civil war. Although they hoped to rebuild their lives and possibly better them. The reality was that they would continue to face hardships such as poverty, unequal rights, and discrimination. For example take this excerpt from one of our course readings, “The Reagan and Bush admissions, obsessed with stopping Communism in the region, refused to assist the thousands streaming across the Mexican border to escape that terror” (pg. 131). Even though a very large majority of Guatemalan immigrants that came to the U.S. were a result of the civil war that was caused by the by the United States, our government refused to assist. Antonio is forced out on the street because he does not make enough money as a dish washer to pay his rent. Although this occurs in the novel, it was a harsh reality for many Central American immigrants. With the refusal of assistance from the government, Guatemalan immigrants had to take jobs in coffee shops, dishwashers, field workers, and manual laborers. For example,“Good neighborhoods were defined as white, and whiteness was defined as good, stable, employed, and
Like any other family, they immigrated to the U.S. thinking about the American Dream, a better future for their kids and the generations to come. The parents wanted to provide the life they did not have to their children. One example is Carlos mother deciding she was willing to leave Mexico for her son. The book says, “Manuela was hesitant to return to the United States but felt there would be more opportunity for her younger son there… In the United States, school was free…and more demanding” (Davis 43). Manuela did not want to leave, but she knew her son would have a brighter education in the U.S. Later on it also shows the struggles of achieving what they desire because they were illegal. Another example is Oscar himself. Goins, the ROTC commander told Carlos, “you gotta be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident” (Davis 51). Oscar was trying to enroll in the Army, but unfortunately he could not serve his country like he wished because he had du that he was not legal in the country and would be taking a privilege from U.S.
Typical American by Gish Jen demonstrates the different struggles that a traditional immigrant family encounters. The book being discussed will be explained by means of historical influences and biographical influences during Jen’s life that affected the novel. This essay will also contain a critical analysis of the book and an analysis of the critical response from others.
In the novel, “The Book of Unknown Americans,” by Cristina Henriquez, she writes about the life of peoples migrating from Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela and many similar Spanish-speaking countries to the United States. This novel talks in deep about the hardships faced by such peoples. Many characters are involved to make this story interesting. But the story mainly revolves around Alma and Mayor. Alma is married to Arturo Rivera and belongs to Mexico. Also, she is the mother of Maribel. Basically, she is the one who cares for the betterment of her family first rather than other materialistic things around her. She is a great character with many redeeming qualities who sincerely plays her role as a supportive wife and as a dutiful mother.
As you read you can picture his settings and characters. For the purpose of this book review, the reader will discuss how a migrant community in search of the “American Dream” encounters the “American Nightmare” as described by Tomás Rivera in his novel, “ …And the Earth Did Not Devour Him.”
Immigrants come to America, the revered City upon a Hill, with wide eyes and high hopes, eager to have their every dream and wild reverie fulfilled. Rarely, if ever, is this actually the case. A select few do achieve the stereotypical ‘rags to riches’ transformation – thus perpetuating the myth. The Garcia family from Julia Alvarez’s book How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, fall prey to this fairytale. They start off the tale well enough: the girls are treated like royalty, princesses of their Island home, but remained locked in their tower, also known as the walls of their family compound. The family is forced to flee their Dominican Republic paradise – which they affectionately refer to as simply, the Island – trading it instead for the cold, mean streets of American suburbs. After a brief acclimation period, during which the girls realize how much freedom is now available to them, they enthusiastically try to shed their Island roots and become true “American girls.” They throw themselves into the American lifestyle, but there is one slight snag in their plan: they, as a group, are unable to forget their Island heritage and upbringing, despite how hard they try to do so. The story of the Garcia girls is not a fairytale – not of the Disney variety anyway; it is the story of immigrants who do not make the miraculous transition from rags to riches, but from stifling social conventions to unabridged freedom too quickly, leaving them with nothing but confusion and unresolved questions of identity.
They talked about how the came over about 10 years ago, so in 1886 when Russia was just starting to get hit with the industrialize revolution, and Poland was also coming over during this time. They were young adults at the time with no family with them and only their bag that they brought to the US. It wasn’t uncommon for people to travel young to the United States because they were most likely to migrate because they had no children or a family to take care of, and they weren’t part of the older generation in their country. They came to America much like everyone else with hopes and dreams to make it big in their new country. Mami wanted to open up her own dance academy while Jake wanted to get his family from Russia over to America, and make a living out of himself. We also see in this opening scene a new migrant who had just came off the boat, going to this bar where they are at and Mami, Jake, and the others being welcoming to him. You also get a glimpse at what an immigrant looks like when they have just gotten off the boat, this immigrant had his beard, one bag, hat, and he doesn’t speak English at all. Luckily for him, he is in a neighborhood that speaks the same language as
Even though immigration brings in people from all over the world, many people tend to focus and stereotype all undocumented immigrants as coming from Mexico. As we can see through the novel and through the recent immigrant influx during the summer, the United States is seeing more and more people from Central and Latin America. These native countries are unable to provide a safe, productive environment for its people, so they need to look for a way to support their families. Even if that means going through the dangers of the trains, crossing the Rio Grande, and realizing that the “picture perfect” society of the U.S. is nothing but a
...heir families. Life was difficult for those who came. The work available was hazardous and offered low wages. Housing was typically overcrowded and not clean for safe living. People came hoping that we would experience the gold paved roads of success. But the realities were obviously different as Bell shows the struggles that immigrants have throughout the book with George and the other Slovaks who immigrate to America. Life was not so grand and was often truly difficult and everything that the immigrants hoped and dreamed about America became so different and untrue. Reaching the American dream for the immigrants became unrealistic and unachievable despite all the hope and effort they stirred to stay afloat and to make it in America.
In this book, the lives of two wealthy American citizens and two illegal immigrants collide. Delaney and Kyra were whites living in a pleasurable home, with the constant worry that Mexicans would disturb their peaceful, gated community. Candido and America, on the other hand, came to America to seek job opportunities and a home but ended up camping in a canyon, struggling even for the cheapest form of life. They were prevented from any kind of opportunities because they were Mexicans. The differences between the skin colors of these two couples created the huge gap between the two races.
Moving from the unpleasant life in the old country to America is a glorious moment for an immigrant family that is highlighted and told by many personal accounts over the course of history. Many people write about the long boat ride, seeing The Statue of Liberty and the “golden” lined streets of New York City and how it brought them hope and comfort that they too could be successful in American and make it their home. Few authors tend to highlight the social and political developments that they encountered in the new world and how it affected people’s identity and the community that they lived in. Authors from the literature that we read in class highlight these developments in the world around them, more particularly the struggles of assimilating
After reading The Book of the Unknown Americans, I realized how difficult immigrating to the United States can be. I am an immigrant also, so just reading the story makes me relate to many problems immigrants experience relocating to a different country. Immigrants often face many issues and difficulties, but for some it is all worth it, but for others there comes a point in time where they have to go back to their hometown. Alma and Arturo Rivera came to the United States to better their life, but also so that Maribel could attend a special education school. While Arturo had a job things had gone well for the family, but once Arturo lost the job and passed away the two of them had to go back because they felt that that was the best option for them. Reading this book made me realize how strong an individual has to be to leave their own country and relocate somewhere else not knowing if this will better your life or cause one to suffer.
I have to introduce you to three individuals, not random individuals, but siblings - two brothers and a sister. They may seem just like any other people, but they have a secret that isn’t easily realized unless you know them. They belong here in the sense that they were born here, but their hearts belong to another land. They are the children of immigrants; the first generation to be born in America. It is a unique experience that to others may seem odd or exotic, but for these three is just as normal as learning to ride a bike.
One day, my parents talked to my brothers and me about moving to United States. The idea upset me, and I started to think about my life in Mexico. Everything I knew—my friends, family, and school for the past twenty years—was going to change. My father left first to find a decent job, an apartment. It was a great idea because when we arrived to the United States, we didn’t have problems.