The book “Crossing into America: The New Literature of Immigration” treats the United States as a country of immigrants. This text manages to capture diverse voices and ideas from different poets, authors, and writers. The authors present the best ideas and discussions to understand the issue of immigration. The immigration reforms of the 1960s made it possible for many people to come to North America.
The US Congress’ decision to amend the Immigration Act in the 1960s transformed American society. The new law removed most of the barriers existing in the nation (Mendoza and Shankar 11). The chapter “The New Literature of Immigration” explains how the increasing number of immigrants has transformed the United States. This development has made the country culturally and racially diverse (Mendoza and Shankar 6).
Throughout the past decades, immigration has remained a major issue in North America. This situation explains why different laws and regulations have redefined the issue of migration in the United States. The anthology takes “the issue of immigration from the wider realm of legislation to the people’s hearts” (Mendoza and Shankar 7). The book “embraces literature to analyze the experiences of different people in the country” (Mendoza and Shankar 3). According to the authors, the practice has continued to change the image, expectation, and future of American society.
Several issues confront many immigrants in this part of the world. Some of these issues include preservation and assimilation. The newcomers have been wondering how they can change and achieve their potentials in a foreign land. Such individuals have been trying hard to communicate with their sons and daughters about the most important things (Mendoza and Shankar 9).
New cultural shocks and wars have dominated American society (Mendoza and Shankar 9). This is undeniable because America is today full of immigrants from different parts of the world. The magnitude of the changes arising from this wave of immigration is incomprehensible. This “new literature presents the prejudiced experiences of foreigners in the new society” (Mendoza and Shankar 2)
The article gives every reader a better comprehension of an issue that is beyond his or her knowledge. The text compels the reader to analyze more articles and discussions to understand the significance of immigration in the United States. The authors have used their essays, memoirs, poems, and fictions to explain how different foreigners have worked tirelessly to redefine their goals. They have worked hard in an attempt to deal with various challenges such as political oppression, discrimination, prejudice, and economic desperation (Mendoza and Shankar 12).
The text goes further to explain why “national identities and boundaries cannot control the communications, allegiances, and movements of different immigrants” (Mendoza and Shankar 11). The chapter “also explains why different things such as death and freedom, hate and love, and violence and happiness dominate the lives of these persons” (Mendoza and Shankar 12). It is agreeable that new ideas and values have emerged because of immigration. This development means a lot for the country’s socio-cultural path.
This article is worth reading because it informs every person about the hurdles and problems encountered by many foreigners in North America. The short stories explain how different Americans ignore and abuse individuals from Asia and Africa. In conclusion, the chapter explores “how different migrants have enriched the fabric of American life and culture” (Mendoza and Shankar 14).
Works Cited
Mendoza, Louis, and Subramanian Shankar. Crossing Into America: The New Literature of Immigration. New York: New Press, 2005. Print.