What does it mean to be American? This is the question that is at the center of the three personal narratives “The Good Daughter,” “The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl,” and “The Fourth of July.” These personal narratives each focus on young women who are struggling with their identity; Caroline Hwang in “The Good Daughter” and Elizabeth Wong “The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl” are immigrants who are becoming accustomed to American life and discovering who they are in their new culture, while Audre Lorde’s “The Fourth of July” focuses on an African-American who must face the harsh realities of American racism. Each of these stories ultimately tells a story of the narrator becoming American or finding themselves unable to be a true
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She does not satisfy the "ideal" definition of Americanism, but she is still American, in a different way. She believes in America as a country—she is "disappointed not to have passed by the Liberty Bell" when in Philadelphia, and eager to go to Washington, D.C., the "fabled and famous capital of [her] country" (91). Her practical awe at being able to visit D.C.—describing it as a "fabled" place—as well as describing America as "her country" shows that Lorde is clearly American, that she thinks of America as her own country and that the landmarks that are most "American" are places she wants to visit. She holds dear the principles on which the country was founded, namely "freedom and democracy for all" (94). Unfortunately, she feels as though the current state of affairs in America is not meeting those goals; she lives during the mid-20th century, a time of great oppression of people of color. She feels unfairly treated, and mad that her parents and sisters will not acknowledge that racism is not "anti-american [sic]" (94). Her belief that racism is not American shows that she believes that Americanism is in fact something good, something for which to strive, and therefore that those principles are good. Furthermore, she decides to write "an angry letter to the president [sic] of the united states [sic]" (94), an act that shows …show more content…
Elizabeth Wong is able to do this, to become American and even leave behind her Chinese heritage. Audre Lorde is also clearly a member of American culture, actively working to make society a better place and taking a vested interest in the principles and origins of America. However, Caroline Hwang’s inability to do something other than that which her parents wish, to independently pursue her dream of becoming American is ultimately the factor that prevents her from becoming American. She cannot let go of her parents’ desires, and those desires create a barrier between her and the rest of American culture. It is not a conscious decision to avoid American culture, but rather a decision to do as her parents say, that ultimately prevents her from being American. In both “The Fourth of July” and “The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl,” the narrators are willing to contradict their family in order to be who they want to be, be it Audre Lorde disagreeing with her family’s belief that racism is the norm and deciding to take action to end discrimination, or Elizabeth Wong rebelling against her parents’ desire for her to be educated in the Chinese culture. All three narratives demonstrate the power of the parental figure in a child’s life, and the trust children put in their parents. However, they
She does not satisfy the "ideal" definition of Americanism, but she is still American, in a different way. She believes in America as a country—she is "disappointed not to have passed by the Liberty Bell" when in Philadelphia, and eager to go to Washington, D.C., the "fabled and famous capital of [her] country" (91). Her practical awe at being able to visit D.C.—describing it as a "fabled" place—as well as describing America as "her country" shows that Lorde is clearly American, that she thinks of America as her own country and that the landmarks that are most "American" are places she wants to visit. She holds dear the principles on which the country was founded, namely "freedom and democracy for all" (94). Unfortunately, she feels as though the current state of affairs in America is not meeting those goals; she lives during the mid-20th century, a time of great oppression of people of color. She feels unfairly treated, and mad that her parents and sisters will not acknowledge that racism is not "anti-american [sic]" (94). Her belief that racism is not American shows that she believes that Americanism is in fact something good, something for which to strive, and therefore that those principles are good. Furthermore, she decides to write "an angry letter to the president [sic] of the united states [sic]" (94), an act that shows …show more content…
Elizabeth Wong is able to do this, to become American and even leave behind her Chinese heritage. Audre Lorde is also clearly a member of American culture, actively working to make society a better place and taking a vested interest in the principles and origins of America. However, Caroline Hwang’s inability to do something other than that which her parents wish, to independently pursue her dream of becoming American is ultimately the factor that prevents her from becoming American. She cannot let go of her parents’ desires, and those desires create a barrier between her and the rest of American culture. It is not a conscious decision to avoid American culture, but rather a decision to do as her parents say, that ultimately prevents her from being American. In both “The Fourth of July” and “The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl,” the narrators are willing to contradict their family in order to be who they want to be, be it Audre Lorde disagreeing with her family’s belief that racism is the norm and deciding to take action to end discrimination, or Elizabeth Wong rebelling against her parents’ desire for her to be educated in the Chinese culture. All three narratives demonstrate the power of the parental figure in a child’s life, and the trust children put in their parents. However, they