Minority - Immigrant

The Narratives and Their Weavings

            Minority and Immigrant: the terms that many confuse and at times use synonymously are indeed similar but nonetheless, different.  It is through critique and evaluation of these two groups that we bear better understanding of our world, people, and society.  And still, in observing these two groups we find that not all fall within these particular boundaries and form yet an additional group of diversified individuals.

            It is this desire for assimilation, while attempting to hold on to our identity that creates the literature that we study.  Individuals strive for assimilation for a variety of reasons.  Some for economic growth, others for social acceptance, and others just do it in the name of progress and success.  Nonetheless, the immigrant and minority narratives show the varying perspectives of individuals living through this process.

             In Nicholasa Mohr’s The English Lesson, Diego Torres, a young man from the Dominican Republic desires the benefits of America but has no desire to assimilate.  Diego states in this text in regard to his reason for taking English lessons: “…and to improve my economic situation.”…“but is one thing I no want, is to become American citizen”(25).  Diego like many immigrants wants a better life, what separates him as an individual is that he does not necessarily want the American Dream.  His assimilation is only that of necessity and no further.  His character shed’s light on a smaller group of immigrants who come for economic purposes but not to be American’s.  This resistance is a common trait among other minority and immigrant narratives however; the resistance in other cases is often not quite as extreme. . . .

            Similarly, in Like Mexicans, we are introduced not only to the color code but to the socio-economic boundaries that are placed on immigrants and minorities alike.  The narrator’s grandmother obviously wants him to marry a Mexican girl.  It is not until the end of the story that he realizes what is truly meant by this.  The blending of cultures and socio-economic groups is evidenced.  It was not that he should not marry anyone else other than a Mexican; she just wanted him to marry someone like him (Mexican).  The similar tonalities in skin complexion, the same housing conditions, and the metaphorical chickens trying to get in are symbolic of everyone’s (minority, immigrant, or chicken) hunger for their opportunity.  In this particular situation, demonstrative similarities help us to understand their individuality.  This overlapping of narratives expresses the difficulty and complexities of achieving the American Dream for both minorities and immigrants alike.

            Lastly, Soap and Water, by Anzia Yezierska demonstrates the desire of an immigrant to achieve the American Dream, without any assistance from the dominant culture.  She is chided by the dominant culture and it is not until she finds Ms. Van Ness that she feels she has “found America”.  It is ironic that she has found America in the eyes and soul of an up and coming professor whose name suggests European descent.  It is only through someone of her own kind both in appearance and knows struggle that she is able to achieve her dream.  The contrast of the immigrant nature with that of the dominant culture is striking. 

            Though the stories convey a desire for the American dream, it is a search for self that is self evident.  Through these narratives, we constantly contrast and define one another and open up lines of communication and understanding.  In understanding one another we validate individuality and in becoming individual’s we diversify. [MC]