According to the American Heritage Dictionary, an anchor baby is a child born on American soil thought to have been chosen in order to improve the family’s legal citizenship status. In Lee’s “I Was An Anchor Baby,” Lee uses historical context, personal experiences, and generalizations about what an anchor baby is to build a pathos appeal that contradicts the stereotype that anchor babies are lazy, undeserving, and used so illegal immigrants can be granted citizenship in the United States.
Lee uses prior-knowledge on immigration laws in order to show that she knows enough about immigration to compile a reasonable argument that contradicts the stereotype of an anchor baby. America has "has had an open-door policy on immigration…[until] the …show more content…
In 1822 the government passed a law in fear that the "Chinese immigrants would take American jobs"(2), even though most immigrants worked in jobs that "other Americans did not want to do"(3). Chinese immigrants were denied access to America even though they performed unwanted jobs like mopping, surgery, and working in factories. Denying Chinese immigrants the right to contribute to American society because of the fear that there will be a lack of jobs is unsettling. Another generalizations Lee exposes is the fact that immigrants are comfortable. This is contradicted by the fact that most "immigrant and second-generation friends share this secret shame"(3). Immigrants are automatically considered lucky when they are admitted into the country. Little do people know is that most immigrants are actually ashamed to be in their situation which is the one emotion that connects all immigrants. Stereotypes come from people who try to make sense of the world so they know how to interact with one and another. They are based on assumptions on a group of people and represent ignorance and a lack of understanding. Throughout the passage Lee uses historical context, personal experiences and generalizations to show the readers that the stereotype of an anchor baby is not accurate. The author uses words and phrases that evoke an emotional response in order to appeal to her
Lee uses prior-knowledge on immigration laws in order to show that she knows enough about immigration to compile a reasonable argument that contradicts the stereotype of an anchor baby. America has "has had an open-door policy on immigration…[until] the …show more content…
In 1822 the government passed a law in fear that the "Chinese immigrants would take American jobs"(2), even though most immigrants worked in jobs that "other Americans did not want to do"(3). Chinese immigrants were denied access to America even though they performed unwanted jobs like mopping, surgery, and working in factories. Denying Chinese immigrants the right to contribute to American society because of the fear that there will be a lack of jobs is unsettling. Another generalizations Lee exposes is the fact that immigrants are comfortable. This is contradicted by the fact that most "immigrant and second-generation friends share this secret shame"(3). Immigrants are automatically considered lucky when they are admitted into the country. Little do people know is that most immigrants are actually ashamed to be in their situation which is the one emotion that connects all immigrants. Stereotypes come from people who try to make sense of the world so they know how to interact with one and another. They are based on assumptions on a group of people and represent ignorance and a lack of understanding. Throughout the passage Lee uses historical context, personal experiences and generalizations to show the readers that the stereotype of an anchor baby is not accurate. The author uses words and phrases that evoke an emotional response in order to appeal to her