Assignment 2
Nick Wei
He is Me I am You
Who is an American? What makes them American? Who makes up the American
identity? This is not only relevant to immigrants, but for all Americans as these poems relate to
the American identity. The poems Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales and One
Today by Richard Blanco. Both Blanco and Morale’s poems express the common ground that
immigrant Americans created our own people and culture by forging a new identity which
includes that of the old world. Blanco claims that we need to work together to be American,
while Morales claims we already are, by being who we are. We are united, our family histories
are the same. Our similar pasts creates a unique kinship that unites us. Immigrants bring their
diversity and hard work to the United States. Perhaps they are true Americans.
These poems have several commonalities, relating American unity and identity. Children
of immigrants, the authors bring a unique perspective to the American identity, a mixed
background adding tones to the American perspective, instead of white and black. Both authors
are of nonwhite background and share Latin America as part of their identity. Morales is of
Puerto Rican and Jewish background, Morales traces her family heritage back through time to
places that are a part of her that she does not connect with. Blanco is from Madrid, Cuba and
grew up in Florida, who cherishes his heritage. Blanco’s poem speaks to the ideal of being an
American, while also being Cuban and gay, that identity is his and cannot be taken from him.
Nothing ever comes easy to minorities, their journey to the states is different and unique from
everyone else. By contributing their unique diversity, they are adding acceptance to anyone that
seems different from themselves. Better understanding and compromise is possible because of
the great diversity.
Assignment 2
Nick Wei
The authors of both poems acknowledge their ancestors, their hard work and sacrifices
that they made for them to become American. Day after day, performing difficult and/or menial
tasks such as “ringing-up groceries as my mother did”, to support their children. (Blanco 13-15)
With “every stalk of corn, every head of wheat sown by sweat
and hands, hands gleaning coal or planting windmills
in deserts and hilltops that keep us warm,
hands digging trenches, routing pipes and cables,
hands as worn as my father's cutting sugarcane.“ (Blanco 34-37)
Allowing their children to enjoy the rights bestowed upon every American, the
opportunity of success, and contribute to the American identity. It is the immigrants who built
America, making it great for their children to inherit. Through their labor immigrants became
American, earning their identity. “Thank the work of our hands”(Blanco 46) Taking their own
and foraging it, changing and shaping it, modeling a new place, America. “History made me”
(Morales 18) America is the land of opportunity, where all that is required is hard work. With
hard work, anyone can make themselves anything. Earning their success, instead of inheriting the
wealth of a throne or rags upon birth. A level playing field of life, in favor of the majority. As the
world’s “melting pot” America is where all are accepted, the authors are able to continue their
culture, thorough language and religion. Remembering their origins while understanding that
they are new and unique, “New from the old.”(Morales 18) A polite disconnect from their
parenting countries and embracing America, their new identity. Being part of a new culture by
remembering their family’s culture, all immigrants are American and something else as well!
Assignment 2
Nick Wei
Morales delves into her family history and describes her ancestry. She traces her roots to
Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, New York City, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. (Morales 4-16)
While those places are a part of her, she is not a part of them. She does not feel that she belongs
to other countries. She has no connection to them, other than her appearance, home is America.
A new person, born from all of these other places in the world as a “child of the
Americas.”(Morales 1) By acknowledging her origins, she adds to the diversity of America,
instead of “melting into America” she maintains her true identity.
On the larger scale of America, this is the true American identity. Morales is a natural born
American, whose parents immigrated to the United States. Part of being American is to be
American and understand your roots. Not a single cookie cutter ideal person or people but a
mosaic of individual diversity, people from all cultures from all over the world. There is some
adjustment, perhaps some culture shock but America is not the way Schlesinger describes. Being
born in America, immigrating to America, by helping build this country, they are already
American. Morales proclaims that she is born where Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, New York City,
Latin America, Europe, and Africa intersect, in this case American and content to be. Americans
with different backgrounds are who make America a welcoming place. From their home
countries they bring their culture to spread in America. “American History was not much fun
until they arrived, brought the good food, turned up the music, and taught everyone to dance.”
(Mary Gordon, More than just a shrine Last 3 lines) It is this diverse mosaic of people that is
recognizable as American the American populace. To come to terms with being American, the
feeling of complete acceptance.
In Blanco’s poem he describes America as one. Distinct and united, all Americans stand
together to create the American identity, and the unity that should be felt by all. After all we are
Assignment 2
Nick Wei
under one sky, one government, make up on people. Even though our languages may be
different, the message is in every language “spoken into one wind carrying our lives, without
prejudice, as these words break from my lips.” (Blanco 43-45) Diversity does not divide us,
instead is a shared trait of Americans. We share a common future that will be explored together a
shared destiny. Blanco shares multiple examples of American unity, in his view America is truly
indivisible. Americans share much as a country people together, we will continue to improve
America and triumph over any challenges. United in nearly every way we stand ready for to
shape the future for the best.(Blanco 70) Americans may look different, speak differently, belong
to a different religion yet we all belong to a single country, and are part of a common people.
America is the place to be, as Blanco’s One Today visualizes the overarching feeling of
indivisible American unity. A connection that unifies Americans as a single people, we share
feelings, habitats, families, friends, and lives are all interconnected, millions of other points bind
us to each other. Blanco celebrates the “us” of America, while Morales’ poem, Child of The
Americas the feeling of being a true American is represented. All about the individual, their
journey, history and story. A single lineage that lead to the author being born an American, the
struggle and sacrifice that her parents and grandparents made to immigrate to America and
become American. Having a background in multiple ethnicities Morales acknowledges her
family history and is proud to declare her confidence in being an American. Her family
journeyed to America to fulfill their own American dream. These poems describe the ideal
America, the America that all people all over the world see and dream of, a destination worth
traveling to. A place where all are accepted, unified and content being who they are, from any
background becoming a proud American. Our shared past is the source of acceptance every
American has a similar story, immigrating to America for a better and brighter future. The brave
Assignment 2
Nick Wei
immigrants who made the journey in spite of the risk and danger, to build the country up to its
world renowned glory, for themselves and their posterity. There is no “normal” American, every
single American is proud to be, yet they are not only American. They are something else as well,
be it Latino, African, European, Native American, or Asian, Americans represent the
congregation of all people from the entire planet. Who work, live, and play together as their own
entity.
Being born an American is great, rights liberties equality handed to you on a silver
platter, and you’re American, congratulations! The original Americans who fought the British,
colonized America are American but not a true American. They never think about being
American, to them it is a right not a privilege. While immigrants are just gaining their American
citizenship, the old timers have been American, its nothing special. With a certain sense of
entitlement they go about their lives. Immigrants are also American, they left their homes to
start new, they were not born “American” they worked for their American title, earning it though
their blood sweat and tears. Being American has meaning to them, a proud title they gained for
themselves which no one can take away from. Arriving in America to fulfil their American
dream, their hopes and wishes. These are the true Americans, those who think about what being
American is, and never take anything for granted.