Book 1 Post 2

I found the diverse stories of American Like Me to be both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Starting with the former of the two, reading about the internal and external challenges first-generation Americans face made me feel a lot of empathy for them. So many children of immigrants experience feelings of alienation or inadequacy as a result of others’ judgments, parental pressures, and societal expectations. America Ferrera does an excellent job of blending her contributors’ narratives in a way that highlights both this struggle and the strength of each individual. Many of the stories show how they have found peace with their identity and found their place in America. This is why I find the collection to be heartwarming– even with the odds stacked against them, each person has found ways to overcome them to become accomplished actors, writers, performers, and activists.

As I was reading the collection, one common theme emerged; childhood. Many of the contributors have chosen to write about when they were in grade school or high school. There are many accounts of bullying from both classmates and teachers that involve microaggressions, outright discrimination, and even physical altercations. One’s childhood and adolescence are their formative years; everything they see and hear either consciously or subconsciously sticks with them and creates their view of themselves and the outside world. In the anecdotes of American Like Me, readers can see this impact, as many of the contributors explain how what they observed at school made them feel like they had to look or act “more white” to be accepted. Examples like this, which only begin to scratch the surface of how our society negatively impacts first-generation Americans, are evidence as to why it is so crucial that our educational system teaches children to be respectful and tolerant. Equipping students with the ability to be culturally-aware ensures that all people can feel accepted and free to be themselves.

Because my ancestors have been in the States for several generations, I cannot personally relate to many of the themes discussed in Ferrera’s book. However, one concept that resonated with me was the idea of identity. Actor, comedian, writer, and director, Randall Park, illustrates his relationship with his parents in his narrative. He explains that he has always connected with them in a more formal than casual way, but used writing a piece for the collection as an opportunity to connect with them more deeply. To learn about where his parents came from, he conducted an interview with them and was able to gain an understanding of his parents’ decisions, his upbringing, and where they formed their values. At the end of his story, he included a call-to-action; Park suggests collecting stories from your own parents, grandparents, and loved ones, and then passing them onto your own children someday. I love this idea, as it allows you to explore your own identity and helps future generations of your family to do the same. Along with being welcoming and accepting of others, after reading this book, I will take forth with me the drive to deepen my own understanding of who I am.