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Sample Student final exam answers 2018 |
LITR 4340
 American Immigrant Literature Model Assignments |
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Anne Ngo
Not So Clear Cut: The Variations
of Assimilation
The immigrant story we know today
differs from the narratives of the dominant culture and their experience in
arriving to America. While the Pilgrims did not assimilate to the dominant
culture already present in America, immigrant groups assimilate in order to
manage with living in their new home country. An examination of the immigrant
narrative and the narratives from the dominant culture reveal that there are
apparent differences in assimilation, but possible similarities too. Thus,
through a reading of three essays from past students, these essays highlight the
variations of assimilation that makes it so complex.
Through an exploration of Carlos
Bulosan’s poetry, Baisha Kreuzer’s “Carlos Bulosan: The Filipino-American
Immigrant Experience” examines the experiences of Filipino immigrants. In her
analyzation of Bulosan’s “The Foreigners,” Kreuzer writes: “While reading this
poem, I was able to truly sense the struggle Carlos experienced by coming to
America without knowing the language or understanding any sort of customs.”
Prior to Kruezer’s research report, I did not know much on the immigration of
Filipino-Americans. However, her report was relatable, reminding me of my dad
when he came to America. Kreuzer also recognizes this relatability, stating that
the “poem truly dives into the desire and stress any immigrant experiences when
first arriving to a strange land.” Kruezer provides further similarities by
referencing Jennifer Condado’s research report on Vietnamese Immigration: “when
the immigrants arrived to the United States they were not greeted with arms
opened, but instead with hostility.” By incorporating references from other
students, there is a sense of connection, throughout these stories, that we can
relate to. The experiences that immigrants face may result in degrees of
assimilation or acculturation to the dominant culture. Thus, Kruezer’s report
bring light to the similar experiences that many immigrants face when coming to
America.
As Kreuzer provides an understanding of
what immigrants may face in America, Amber Boone’s “The Ones Who Would Not
Assimilate” discusses the differences of experiences from the settlers. Boone’s
essay offers some similarities to the immigrant story from the settlers that
immigrated to America: “they, like many immigrants who have since come to this
country, sought freedom from persecution. . . and the chance to start a new
life.” However, the Pilgrims were not keen to assimilate, as Boone states, “for
not only do they refuse to assimilate, but rather, they expect to be assimilated
to.” Boone points out that their
refusal to assimilate affects minority groups, as “their realm of opportunity in
America has also been at odds with the pre-established dominant culture.” In
sum, Boone’s essay provides insight and history to the early roots of the
dominant culture and its effects on America today.
Austin Green’s “America’s Guide to
Becoming Dominant” also examines the waves of immigration from the dominant
culture through the assimilation from the Scotch-Irish. His essay provides
nuances to topic of assimilation, stating that the Scotch-Irish were assimilated
enough to be a part of the country, but “had not fully assimilated” to the
dominant culture. This was something I had not thought about before, that a
group may be partly assimilated, despite being considered in the dominant
culture. Green then makes an interesting point: “time. . . has shown how they
have fully assimilated into the dominant culture, in spite of their differences
with it.” Green allows readers to think about the variations within assimilation
and a possibility that a group could grow into complete assimilation, or remain
partly assimilated.
Through an examination of these three
essays, I have a better understanding of the differences and similarities of the
immigrant story and the narratives from dominant culture. Kruezer provides a
closer look on the experiences that immigrants encounter in America, while Boone
highlights the differences between the experiences of immigrants and the
Pilgrims. Green gives insight to the third wave of the dominant culture, the
Scotch-Irish, and how they assimilated over time. These essays not only add
nuance to the conversation on assimilation, but they also emphasize that the
variations of assimilation is not so clear cut and easy to determine.
