American Identity In Mericans

Both "In Response to Executive Order 9066" and "Mericans" a common theme is American identity. Both stories have main characters that feel out of place, and are stuck between two different cultures. In Okita's story, American identity comes from where they live and who they interact with. Both Okita's story and Cisnero's stories determine that your families heritage and race doesn't dictate what it means to be American.

In "Mericans" , you sense that the narrator of the story prefers the American culture. She would rather be spending time doing more modern things. You can also tell that the narrator prefers American culture because she calls her grandmother " the awful grandmother" because of her strong Mexican heritage. The narrator explains that her Grandmother is worried because many of her children and grandchildren live in a "barbaric country with its barbaric ways''. You can understand that the narrator prefers the American culture by examining her and her grandmothers relationship throughout the story. The main message of this short story is that your family heritage and race doesn't dictate what it mean to be American.

The letter "In Response to Executive Order 9066" is about a Japanese girl who lives in America. The main character …show more content…
The main characters in both stories are struggling with their families culture because they are so heavily influenced by American culture. They both have strong roots in their families culture, but feel more linked to American culture. They are different because in "Mericans" she is living in her grandmother's world but doesn't feel connected to it. In Okita's letter the main character is influenced by her friends culture and becomes more attached to it. The stories are different because the main character in each story are influencing by different