Gregory Djanikian, "In the Elementary School Choir"

(Unsettling America, p.215)

I found Cultural Objectives 2-To observe and analyze the effects of immigration and assimilation on American Culture. And he is assimilated to dominant American culture and loss of ethnic identity.

The immigrant narrative that is speaking is 2nd generation. Because it talks about his grandmother still living in Egypt. He also journeyed to America from Egypt.

3rd stanza p.216 1st two lines– I think he is assimilated to dominant culture, because he says "But now it was MY country ‘tis of thee" / And I sang it out with all my heart. He is celebrating.

4th stanza p.215 6th line–where he says "There was Linda Deemer with her amber waves" he is comparing her beautiful hair with the song America where it says with amber waves of grain. He is telling us she is beautiful like America.

2nd stanza p.215 last line–when he says that his old country smelled like diesel and salt. And in the 4th stanza 3rd and 4th lines he is talking about America having sun or bluebirds, fair weather or fancy fringe, O beautiful America–makes me think that not only is he assimilated, but he is celebrating being in America.

4th stanza p.216– he has found his first love, Linda Deemer.

5th stanza p.216– when he says "One day I was going to tell her something." He is kind of shy but he will get the nerve to speak to her one day.

He sees America as all good and wonderful. He realizes what America is and has to offer. Others take it for granted.

I think that you can compare him to Sara in Bread Givers. Because he is so young when he was brought here that he doesn't really know the old country and their culture he is assimilated with American culture and so was Sara. I can see him having some problems with his father during his growing up because his father is probably not assimilated yet and he is still hanging onto the old world. They will probably encounter some problems with the two different cultures and their differences.

Discussion:

Dr. White–what about Linda Deemer?

Rachel–connected "Blonde White Women" with Linda Deemer. Sense of discrimination in line one. Sense of separation.

Sylvia– High society. Linda on higher tier in choir, she's all American girl, all American Idealization of America, but he knows his ancestors would be confused in America.

Yvonne– He's confused.

Yolanda– Racism–points out that American names of cities, etc are foreign names.

Yvonne–He's exposed to America by cultural icons.

Yolanda–You don't know what they are talking/singing about, but you still sing to fit in.

Rachel–Language is important for assimilation.

Diane–Talks about songs–"death of fathers" separated from people around him especially Linda Deemer because she is epitome of beautiful America. He is not. She is out of his league.

Dr. White–He has yearning to speak out.

Pam–It's puppy love. 1st 2 stanzas old/new world assimilation.

Yvonne–"exotic..."–sarcasm, aloofness. He comes from Turkey-an exotic country.

Dr. White–Sees him as thinking Pilgrims are different from his world. "My country..." he remembers his old country but America is his. "Land where fathers died..." Points out Armenians' and Turks' history. Genocide of Turks of Armenians. Linda Deemer--her ancestors died several generations before. Thinks of Turkey, where great uncles, grandfathers died recently.