Book 1 Post 2: American Like Me

I really enjoyed reading American Like Me by American Ferrera. Her book captures many different aspects of what it means to “be American”—both the good and the bad. She highlights the notion that being an American can mean many different things to different people. American Ferrera explores the idea of being “in between” cultures, and how to manage this internal struggle. She covers a diverse range of cultures and experiences throughout her book, all while celebrating the many opportunities America has to offer. She includes both light-hearted stories, as well as the stories of those who struggle assimilating/embracing to American society and ideals. 

Many of the writers grapple with balancing their own heritage and conforming to American culture. In many stories, their struggles during their youth eventually propel them to embrace their heritage as adults, realizing that it is an important part of their identity. For example, in Reshma Saujani’s story, the founder of Girls Who Code, her “extreme desire to just be white” was a central struggle during her youth. It was when she was bullied by one of her peers that she decided to face the prejudice head on by creating an activist club at her school, and truly embrace her heritage. This story was a really touching story. In another notable story, the story of Bambadjan Bamba, a French-African immigrant, he struggles between wanting to be proud of his African heritage and the pressure to assimilate to American culture. Although he wants to embrace his identity, he faces exclusion by his classmates which causes him to feel ashamed. It is ironically acting that encourages him to be his most authentic self.   

The compilation of stories from different writers makes the story relatable to people of many different backgrounds. I appreciated the overall spirit of identity, resilience, and self-acceptance, as it is encouraging for readers and instills a sense of hope. American Ferrera shows us that every very part of our identity is something to be proud of, which is an inspiring sentiment. I would absolutely recommend this book, as it serves as a reminder that America is a melting pot of different cultures, experiences, and backgrounds. And, to never judge a book by its cover (both literally and figuratively)! With that said, it is also a reminder to carry ourselves with empathy for those around us and to recognize the diverse backgrounds of the people we encounter on a daily basis.

Comments

  1. Hello Bella, I liked how you mentioned that America is like a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds at the end of your post. I one hundred percent agree with you in regards to your last statement of carrying ourselves with empathy for others. Really interesting!

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  2. I also picked this book to read, and you are right not to judge a book by its cover. At first, I thought this reading would be boring, but it tired out to be very interesting. It was interesting to see how different cultures come to America for a better life.

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  3. Thanks for sharing! I love how American Like Me highlights the diversity of the American experience and the challenges of navigating between cultures. The stories of identity and resilience, like Reshma Saujani embracing her heritage through activism, are really inspiring. It’s also interesting how Bambadjan Bamba found his authentic self through acting. I agree that the compilation of different perspectives makes the book relatable and empowering. It sounds like a powerful reminder to celebrate our identities and show empathy to others.

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  4. Bella, well done! My dad was born and raised in London and moved to Philadelphia in his 30s. It was very interesting growing up with an immigrant parents. When I was younger, I would frequently think about why one of my parents was different than many of my peers parents. Now of course I know that I should be proud to have a unique background, but I can definitely see why this is a struggle for many people. Well done!

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  5. Hi Bella, I can definitely relate to your thoughts on this book, as I also did a report on it. I really appreciate how you emphasized the diverse experiences the book covers, from lighthearted stories to the more challenging struggles with cultural identity. I also found it powerful how many of the writers eventually embraced their heritage after grappling with the pressure to conform.

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  6. Hi Bella, I also resonated with the stories you shared by Reshma Saujani and Bambadjan Bamba. I thought they were inspiring and allowed me to be appreciative of my upbringing. I also grew up with two cultures but was never as much as a minority as them. I like how you mentioned the importance of empathy because everyone goes through different challenges in their upbringing.

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  7. After reading a couple people's reviews of this book I am definitely more interested in checking it out. I am curious about how the stories from different writers are similar and how they are different. Do different cultures face some of the same issues?

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  8. After reading this review and from the discussions from class today, I definitely think I should add this to my to-read list. This was a great review, and expanded well on your first post. It sounds so interesting that there are many stories from many writers in it.

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