American Me by Ninfa Miranda-Maloney, Book Review Example

Chicana/o literature has already gained critical recognition in cultural life of the USA since 1970’s when it became the object of numerous reviews and surveys. Therefore works of literature are being all over analyzed as the exponents of ethnic identity either authors’ or characters’. The notion of “ethnicity” has not acquired presently the unique determination, but according to Keefe and Padilla “ethnic groups have commonly been defined on the basis of language, religion, or national origin” (Keefe & Padilla, 1987, p. 13).

The problem of ethnic identity is revealed clearly in the poem “American me” by Ninfa Miranda-Maloney. It tells the story of an immigrant, which is presumably relevant to the author’s personal experience. The narrator recalls through flashbacks his formation in the country which lead to the “birth” of   “American him”. On the other hand the title suggests the existence of another ethnic “me” visible in the motives of the poem.

The plot of “American me” is based on the listing of actions familiar to many immigrants: ”crossed the bridge in ’55/ in faded blues…/for a twenty and a five/ bought a U.S. visa” (Miranda-Maloney). Though the narrator does not avow any ethnicity or religious beliefs,  specific ethnic background is denoted by the following details: place names (San Eli, the valley of Guadalupe, Los Lagartos Plaza), words of the Spanish origin (brilliantina, gringo, ranchero), even the kind of job he had to do (to build a pig pen, to stir some adobes, to cultivate onions).  He celebrates the 50th anniversary of that “American him”, and he still remembers how hard it was to become an American and he can smell the onions on his hands.

To be honest, I often face such type of identity issues, namely in my family circle. Among my kids’ friends are children of the Mexican origin whose grand-parents immigrated to the USA in 1920’s. When they initially moved to Texas they also had to work hard and build, and break backs, and “sweat a few tears for a piece of the dream” (Miranda-Maloney) just like the major character of the poem. They suffered famine and abject poverty urging to secure better life for the descendants. Still they wanted to preserve their language and traditions because they identified themselves as a separate nationality which they strived to save.

Besides, the immigrants were not welcomed in the country by the natives. In his influential research Sanchez provides an abstract from a report to the U.S. Secretary of Labor (1922) which states that:

the psychology of the average Mexican alien unskilled worker from Mexico is that when he enters in any manner into the United States that he is only upon a visit to an unknown portion of his own country. He is independent and does not consider he is an immigrant alien, but rather in what is termed the United States by right of birth and possession, the country of his forebearers… (Sanchez, 1995, p.16)

All their efforts were not in vain. Their children and grandchildren consider themselves Americans (by citizenship) and Mexicans (by ethnicity or nationality). They use native language, maintain relations with other Mexicans, and try to adhere to national traditions.

References

Keefe S. E., & Padilla A.M. (1987). Chicano ethnicity. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

Miranda-Maloney, N.  “American me”. Retrieved June 9, 2010, from http:// www.xispas.com/poetry/maloney.htm

Sánchez, G.J. (1995). Becoming Mexican American: ethnicity, culture, and identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945. New York: Oxford University Press.