America By Anzia Yezierska Summary

The American identity involves the freedom to do what you want along with the ability to express yourself in every way imaginable, but unfortunately this is not the reality for people immigrating to our country.

Immigrants who came to this country were seeking a better life and opportunities. They endured so much but in reality, nothing in return. Anzia Yezierska was born in Poland, she came here willing to work hard hoping to earn a decent living right away. She finds out that this is not necessarily the case. “…I felt that the America of my dreams never was and never could be…I felt that the America that sought was nothing but a shadow-an echo-a chimera of lunatics and crazy immigrants” (Yezierska. P97). Going on with this the author states
Kesaya Noda is the grandchild of Japanese immigrants and was treated as a first hand immigrant fresh to the country. Rather the third generation American she actually is. “Being neither ‘free white’ nor ‘African’, our people in California were deemed ‘aliens, ineligible for citizenship’ no matter how long they intended to stay here. Aliens ineligible for citizenship were prohibited from owning, buying, or leasing land” (Noda. 4). This shows how Japanese immigrants who came here to fulfill their “American Dream” can’t. The idea of the “American Dream” is being able to buy goods, being able to support yourself and your family without as much as a blink of an eye. Continuing, Noda explains that“[b]eing Japanese means being a danger to this country during the war and knowing how to use chopsticks. I wear this history on my face” (Noda. P 4). This demonstrates that even though the author was born here she feels that she doesn’t belong in America. What causes people to react differently to her is solely because she’s Asian. She being a third generation American has caused her to experience both worlds. Meaning both cultures, Japanese and American. Just being of Asian descendant pegs her as being able to use chopsticks or a treat to the