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Sample Student final exam answers 2019
(2019 final exam assignment) Part 1: Essays: dominant culture overview |
LITR 4340
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Virginia Deleon
The Great American Mosaic
Although immigration might seem like a hot
current event, the concept of immigration is nothing new for the U.S. In fact,
the great nation of America was founded by immigrants or members of the dominant
culture. From the very first pilgrim settlers in 1620, who came to the new world
escaping religious persecution—to
the families escaping drug violence in Latin America in 2019—immigrants
have always been at the heart of this nation. Just as a mosaic is made by
arranging together different colored pieces of stone or glass—America is also
made up of a variety of different and vibrant cultures. Whether it be for
religious freedom, economic opportunity, or simply to have a better life, people
from all over the world have sought after the American dream. The minority
narrative, however, differs greatly from the immigrant identity. Minorities,
like African Americans, did not choose to come to America. They were brought
here against their will or simply ended up on U.S. soil for various reasons.
Similarly, New World immigrants are an interesting combination of both the
immigrant and minority identity. Often, New World immigrants come to America
voluntarily, however, they may come from nations with a past of involuntary
contact or oppression from the U.S. or other countries. By taking a closer look
into the literature of immigrants, minorities, and New World immigrants, one can
better understand how they make up the brilliant mosaic that is America.
Often, immigrants are forced to leave their
homelands due to violence and oppression. In Le Ly Hayslip’s compelling
testimony Child of War, Woman of Peace
we read a first-hand account from the experience of a Vietnamese immigrant
during times of war. Hayslip was born to a working class family consisting of
peasants and farmers. When the conflicts between North and South Vietnam began
to rise, Hayslip was forced to become involved. In the years following, her
young life would become permanently stained by the tragedies of war. As she
herself states in the memoir, “Before youth has left, old age has come” (IV
113). Here, Hayslip comments on the fact that immigrants are often forced to
grow up faster than others. Although she eventually immigrates safely to America
in order to start a new life—the
scars of her past take some time to disappear.
Sandals
in the Snow, Rose Ihedigbo’s powerful memoir, tells a similar tale about
immigrants fleeing to the U.S. for freedom and safety. After having experienced
the perils of the Nigerian Civil War during the 60’s and 70’s, Ihedigbo’s family
moves to the U.S. for educational opportunities. Here, they start a new life
despite the struggles of assimilation and discrimination from their white peers.
As stated in the memoir, “As Africans, the Ihedigbo children were used to being
different” (IV 163). The Ihedigbos were proud of their Nigerian roots. They had
a deep respect for their elders, a strong work ethic, and a love of sports. Yet,
no matter how hard they tried, they understood they did not quite “fit in” (IV
163). Assimilation was difficult for the Ihedigbos, and it can be difficult for
many other immigrants as well. Becoming a piece of the American mosaic is not
always easy—but
the outcome can be a beautiful and diverse spectacle.
In Christine Moon Ko’s
What Color Would You Like, Ma’am? we
see the struggles of the young son of Asian immigrants who is torn between
assimilating to the U.S. and the desire to please his traditional family. In the
short story, Thien waits eagerly for the summer to come so that he can spend
time with his friends and “play basketball and Play Station games for months
while he had the chance” (Course Site). Unfortunately, his family has other
plans for him. His mother expects him to willingly assist at the family nail
salon. Thien’s identity is divided between wanting to be like the rest of his
American teenage friends, yet also pleasing his traditional Asian family in the
form of a model minority. This of course, is a common issue for many immigrants,
especially the children of immigrants.
Furthermore, many immigrants can become the
targets of unfair abuse by the police and corrupt lawyers. In Sui Sin Far
In the Land of the Free, Lae Choo and
Hom Hing are faced with the horrible task of leaving their small child with
customs upon entering the U.S. The officers explain to the distressed parents
that they “cannot allow the boy to go ashore” because “there is nothing” in the
papers that demonstrated that the child belonged to them (IA 4). If this had
been an American family returning from a vacation, their child would have never
been taken from them in such a callous manner. Although policies are put in
place to regulate all visitors, immigrants from other countries are definitely
bigger targets to these unfair laws.
In comparison to the immigrant narrative, the
history of minorities in the U.S. is far more complex. Although many immigrants
are considered minorities, not all minorities are considered immigrants. In the
case of most African Americans, for instance, they did not immigrate here
voluntarily but were rather brought here and forced into slavery. In Olaudah
Equiano’s tragic memoir The Interesting
Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, we learn about his violent
kidnapping from his village in Africa and the horrors he experienced while on
the slave ship. Equiano goes on to describe the terrors he witnessed, “I looked
round the ship too and saw a...multitude of black people of every description
chained together, everyone of their countenances expressing dejection and
sorrow… (Course Site)”. These horrors are beyond any nightmare one can
experience. When discussing immigrants and minorities, it is crucial that one
understands this important distinction: minorities were forced into the U.S.
Although they are complicated narratives, when
discussing immigrants and minorities it might be easier to differentiate the two
once given background knowledge. When it comes to New World immigrants, however,
their history is significantly more complex. Having qualities from both the
immigrant and the minority narrative,
New World immigrants are amongst the strongest and most diverse peoples. Because
many of them voluntarily come to America, they are considered immigrants.
Nonetheless, New World immigrants often have a long and winding history of
unwanted contact and exploitation from more powerful nations such as the U.S.,
making their experience more complicated. Coming from nations such as Mexico,
Puerto Rico, and Haiti—many
New World immigrants come from a Native, or Afro-Caribbean descent. This means
that at some point in their history they were forced to come to these nations
through some violent act such as the slave trade. New World immigrants come from
a turbulent and painful background. Unfortunately, the current state of affairs
in nations like Cuba and Haiti are the reason why many New World immigrants
continue risking their lives coming to America. This historical context is
critical when reading the literature of New World immigrants.
Edwidge Danticat’s “Children of the Sea” tells the tragic story of two young
lovers from Haiti. As their nation is terrorized by the military, a politically
involved young man is forced to flee Haiti by boat along with other unwanted
members of his society. Unfortunately, the young woman is forced to stay behind
where her father “will probably marry her off” as the young man suggests
(Danticat 98). The story unfolds through the letters both lovers write each
other, but regrettably, never get to send. Danticat’s tragedy makes evident the
violent discrimination the Haitians experience at the hands of the military. Any
individual who attempted to fight back, such as the young lover, would be
executed—or
worse. As the young woman writes in her letter, “if only i could kill. if i knew
some good wanga magic, i would wipe them off the face of the earth. a group of
students got shot in front of fort dimanche today” (100). The militarized regime
that occupied Haiti allowed no freedom or rights, forcing many Haitians to
gamble their lives on a perilous journey by boat to the U.S.
If New World immigrants, like Haitians escaping oppression in their nation,
actually make it to the U.S.—a
whole new set of challenges await them. Assimilation to the dominant culture,
discrimination due to color code, and identity struggles are all part of the New
World immigrant experience. In
the seemingly comical “How to date a browngirl,
blackgirl, whitegirl, or halfie” by Junot Diaz, he gives a second-person
explanation of how to get dates with girls of different races. Although it comes
off as whimsical, the short story actually sheds light on a sad reality many New
World immigrants must face: having to shapeshift in order to be accepted. Being
a New World immigrant means you must play a different role depending on the
situation. As Diaz describes, “If the girl’s from the Terrace stack the boxes of
[government cheese] behind the milk. If she’s from Park or Society Hill hide the
cheese in the cabinet...take down any embarrassing photos of your family in the
campo...hide any pictures of yourself with an Afro” (276). The idea behind his
advice is that if the love interest is from the “Terrace” she is probably a
minority like him, but if she is from “Park or Society Hill” she is most likely
white, or a part of the dominant culture. It is clear from his step by step
directions that more drastic changes must be made to his home and
himself in order to be liked by the
white girl. In order to be accepted, he must assimilate to the dominant culture,
even if it means just “hiding the cheese”.
One of the most complicated nation relationships is certainly between the U.S.
and Mexico. Their history is long and complex, including war and land disputes.
Because of this past, many Mexican-Americans now carry the weight of history on
their shoulders. Torn between two worlds, these New World immigrants fit both
the immigrant and minority narrative. One of the most influential
Mexican-American authors, Sandra Cisneros, writes about these issues in order to
share her peoples narrative. The short story titled “Barbie-Q” touches on the
duality of assimilating while at the same time standing out from the dominant
culture. Or rather, never quite fitting in. In the text, two young girls long to
own barbie dolls like the ones girls from the dominant culture have. Although
they own a few barbie dolls, they do not have many accessories or even a Ken
doll for that matter. Fortunately, a fire strikes the local toy store giving the
girls a lucky break: “Everybody today selling toys all of them damaged with
water and smelling of smoke” (253). It is only when the toys are damaged and
sold at a flea market that these two young girls are able to “fit in” with the
dominant culture. They are not allowed otherwise. Cisneros’ “Barbie-Q” suggests
that minorities are only allowed glimpses into the dominant culture, never fully
accepted.
Further, Reyna Grande’s “The Distance Between Us” is
the compelling memoir about her childhood and illegally crossing the border into
the U.S. from Mexico. As a New World immigrant, Grande experienced much
adversity in her life. Coming to America was both by choice and by force. After
her father returns from “el otro lado” or “the other side”, young Reyna and her
siblings are faced with the most difficult decision of their lives: stay in the
poverty of Mexico, the only home they have ever known
or embark on the difficult journey to
the U.S. in search for a better life. Although some members of the dominant
culture believe that people from Mexico are lined up at the U.S. doors waiting
for a chance to get in—this
is not the case. Grande’s memoir elaborates on the reality of how truly
difficult it is making the decision to leave your home behind. Having finally
crossed the border, Grande recalls “Two thousand miles was the distance between
us and Mami. Between me and the place I had been born. Between me and my
childhood, however painful it had been” (104). Grande proposes that the decision
to leave your home is never easy, no matter how troubling your homeland may be.
When taking into consideration the pieces that make up
the American mosaic, it is equally important to study the dominant culture.
Members of the dominant, or settler culture, make up a large portion of the U.S.
For many years they were the “majority”. Of course, this has changed over time
as the nation’s “minorities” steadily reach the majority levels. Despite their
portrayal in the media, the dominant culture is not as privileged as it may
seem. Several of the course’s texts, such as
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, serve
to illuminate the community’s struggles. It is easy dismissing any adversity the
dominant culture has faced when it is compared to that of immigrants and
minorities. However, all human experience is valid and real. Anglo-Americans
have experienced their share of issues and discrimination. The dominant culture
serves as an umbrella term for various ethnic groups that fall under it, further
complicating their background. Each particular group, whether it be the Pilgrims
or the Scots-Irish, faced their own setbacks. In order to understand the
perspectives and experiences of the dominant culture one must first understand
their history.
It is no secret that the U.S. was founded by
immigrants, particularly, European immigrants. However, not every member of the
dominant culture comes from the same background. From the Puritans to the
Scots-Irish, the ethnic groups that make up the umbrella term of dominant
culture come from different places in Europe. Beginning at 1620, Puritans from
England sailed to the New World in search of religious freedom. This event
coined the term “The Great Migration” for it symbolized a new beginning for
their community. Similarly, the Pilgrims also began their journey to the New
World around this time. William Bradford and his people established the Plymouth
Plantation in Massachusetts. According to his journals, his people were forced
to immigrate because “satan” was tainting their once pious home: “After they
[the English Pilgrims] had lived in this city [Leiden, Holland] about some
eleven or twelve years and sundry [various] of them [Pilgrims] were taken away
by death and many others [of the Pilgrims] began to be well stricken in years .
. . , those prudent governors [the Pilgrims’ leaders] with sundry of the sagest
[wisest] members began both deeply to apprehend their present dangers and wisely
to foresee the future and think of timely remedy. In the agitation of their
thoughts, and much discourse of things hereabout, at length they began to
incline to this conclusion: of removal to some other place.
. . .” (Course site). Bradford goes on to
elaborate on the many “temptations” that began to take over the children
“departing them from their parents” (Course site). The Pilgrims resented the
idea of their families assimilating to other cultures and essentially losing
their own culture and faith. Similarly, this theme can be observed across the
board with several immigrant and minority groups. The need to retain their own
heritage and beliefs motivated Bradford’s group to seek refuge in a new place.
As the years went on, the U.S. and the dominant
culture expanded. But as all great nations develop—so do their troubles. For a
more recent account of the experience of Anglo-Americans in the U.S., the course
reading by J.D. Vance Hillbilly Elegy
paints a pretty solid picture. In his own words, his literary work is “A memoir
of a Family and Culture in Crisis”. Coming from a Scotch-Irish background, he
considers himself a member of the “million working class white Americans who
have no college degree” (Vance 3). He begins his memoir by explaining that he
has done nothing extraordinary in his life. He tells of his troubled childhood,
struggling in school, and the estranged relationship with his drug using
parents. Although his life is better now, his past “demons” still chase him.
Part of the reason Vance attributes to his difficult upbringing is his ethnic
background. According to him, “The Scots-Irish are one of the most distinctive
subgroups in America...Their family structure, religion and politics, and social
lives all remain unchanged compared to the wholesale abandonment of tradition
that’s occurred nearly everywhere else” (Vance). Because the Scots-Irish are
often referred to as “hillbillies”, they have a certain reputation. This
involves isolation, farming, and pessimism. Perhaps this reputation and the
feeling that they cannot break free from the cycle prohibits many members of
this community from rising above. In a nation of immigrants, minorities, and New
World immigrants—it is the dominant culture who is often overlooked.
In recent years—immigrants, minorities, and New World immigrants seem to be on
every news channel and article title. Especially when it comes to the
relationships between such groups and the dominant culture. With border security
a hot issue, and racial tensions rising, it almost makes you question the era we
live in. Interestingly enough, immigrants and minorities have always been a part
of the U.S. The nation was founded by immigrants, the fields of land worked on
by enslaved minorities, and the dominant culture has continuously evolved with
the last century. Yet, the same issues from fifty years ago continue to rise
again and again. It is evident that a lack of empathy plagues our nation. The
ability to understand others’ experiences can only come through openly wanting
to learn from each other. By reading literary works from immigrants, minorities,
New World immigrants, and even members of the dominant culture, we can better
understand each other’s perspectives and realize that they are necessary in
order to forge the world’s most beautiful mosaic.
