April 2019 Book-et List: "American Like Me"
America Ferrera, the child of Honduran immigrants, assembled “American Like Me” – a collection of stories by people of mixed races – including her own story. Many of the narrators throughout the book mention feeling alone due to their inability to relate to both their family’s culture and their peers’ “American” heritage. There are accounts of bullying and discrimination in schools and homes, instances where the narrator wasn’t American enough among friends but too American among family.
As the daughter of two immigrant parents, I have definitely felt the former. My mother was born in Saigon, Vietnam and came to the U.S. when she was 3 years old. My father was born in Piraeus, Greece and came to California for college. While not as extreme as some of the stories in “American Like Me,” I did feel a bit like an outsider during my childhood. From my name to my cultural and religious traditions, there was always something different about me.
Some of Reshma Saujani’s experiences as an Indian-American resonated with my childhood memories. She wrote about how her name often made her feel like an outsider. She never found keychains or souvenirs with “Reshma” printed on them. When reading that scene, I immediately thought “Me!”
This same scenario used to get me down and make me feel like no one wanted to be my friend in elementary school. I went to a mostly white school, and while I may have looked white, my culture and traditions were very different from my peers. Now that I go to SCHS, I see a myriad of colors in the halls, and I don’t feel so alone anymore. I’ve learned to embrace the uniqueness and meaning of my name.
The stories featured in the narratives are of those who were born here but grew up in a different country, those who were born and raised in America but never fit in, and those who lived half their lives in America and half their lives in their home country. The cultures represented range from Latinx to Native American.
A common motif among the stories is a sense of detachment from both American culture and one’s native culture. The authors write about how they tried to become more American to fit in at school. Some talk about how they didn’t feel like they fit their non-American culture enough. The book can inspire people of mixed races to embrace their differences but still be accepted among their American peers.
“American Like Me” is the book to read for those who need reassurance that their heritage is a beautiful and unique aspect of who they are, or for those who want to learn more about the cultures of others.
