Pat Mora and the American Dream
Pat Mora is a known poet in the United States who wrote the poem Immigrants. She lived in El Paso, at the border of Mexico and Texas. In her poem she speaks of American dream yet she knows the thought is not for her. Therefore, the thesis of this context is the American dream by immigrants as depicted in the poem. In this regard, she describes the American dream because most people would like to live in a free country and that would be America at large. In her perspective, she sees immigrants beating their children's head to acknowledge that they are American. Pat Mora lived her life in poverty thus the poem's description shows the American dream. The constituent in writing is what makes the poem unusual and not the novel because it reveals the feeling of being an American.
The American Dream and Immigrant Parents
From the beginning of the poem, the first instance that depicts how parents wanted so badly for their children to live the American dream is in the first line, "wrap their babies in the American flag..." (Probst 1) In this regard, the American flag will categorically mean one is an American. You find that most Americans value their flag, which is why one will see some of them putting the flag on the doorsteps of their houses. Moreover, most champions wrap themselves with the flag upon winning in any game hence showing the American dream and lifestyle. Besides, another example in the poem is the fact that guardians give their children American names such as Bill and Daisy and feeding their children mashed hot dogs and apple. The above narrative is a clear indication that parents want their children to grow into beautiful American girls and boys who can be accepted in the American culture.
Pat Mora's Perspective on the American Dream
Pat Mora writes the poem, terming it "Immigrants." The term makes her look up to the Americans who lived at the middle-class level and admire their lifestyle since all her life she lived in poverty. She believed that most middle-class individuals were immigrants and so she wanted to live like them. The poem illustrates, "buy them blonde dolls that blink blue eyes or a football and tiny cleats" (Probst 4-5). The above narrative depicts the admiration of the lifestyle the middle-class family in America lived at large. Another element in the poem's writing is that parents force their children to speak in thick English, saying "hello" or "babe." English is mostly known as the profane language in America. Therefore children speaking English is an excellent indication that they have the American dream back in their mind.
Fears and Hurdles in Achieving the American Dream
However, parents in this context fear that the lack of American cultural heritage might hinder them from seeing the American dream. They fear that instances such as racism will prevent acceptance to the American world and lifestyle. In line eleven and twelve, "In a dark parent bed, that dark parent fear, will they like our boy, our girl, our fine American boy, our fine American Girl?" (Probst 11-12) the critical writings in this perspective speaks of itself on issues that affect Americans even in our contemporary society today. One realizing the American dream would need a lot of effort in conjunction with various challenges at large. Consequently, the transformation of being an American from a boy or a girl to being a beautiful American boy or beautiful American girl is in line eleven and twelve. You find that parents are nervous in the situation of crossing the borders because back in mind they know instances of race and culture will affect their existence (Phillion et al 243).
The Cultural Divide in "Immigrants"
In the poem, there are two different stanzas which in this case, one shows the essence of the American culture of eating apple pie and American hot dogs while naming their children Bill and Daisy. The other one talks of immigrants beating their children's head for them to acknowledge the fact that they are Americans. The above narrative is seen in the poem, "Speak to them in English, hello, babe, hallo, whisper in Spanish or Polish when the babies sleeps..." (Probst 7-9) In this real theme, Mora was trying to break the concepts in two different stanzas. You find that the first instance, she is emotional on how to achieve the American dream and even influences and describing how parents try to name their children American names and wrap them with the American flag at large. In the second stanza, it creates the picture of unleashing emotions out to the children that they are Americans and that they should speak in thick English to be accepted as Americans at large.
Conclusion: The Immigrant's American Dream
In conclusion, the paper talks about Immigrants at large. It reflects how immigrants raise their babies in America. Furthermore, it shows the essence of being accepted into the American culture through copying of American secular language and embracing their norms and ideas. On the other hand, the poem's perspective displays the concept of shunning away from one's real cultural heritage and identity. Mora is an example of the above perception because you find that she is of Mexican heritage but would like to embrace the American culture, to live their dreams and lifestyle at large. The most significant perception of the poem is that it shows how anyone from any country wants to live the American dream as depicted in the thesis above. It might create a bad picture to Americans, but anyone in Mora's shoes will do everything possible for their children to have the American dream.
Works Cited
Gomm, Jeff, et al. "Analysis of Latino Award Winning Children's Literature." School Psychology International, vol. 38, no. 5, Oct. 2017, pp. 507-522. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/0143034317713349.
Phillion, Joann et al. Narrative And Experience In Multicultural Education. ISBN 1452237786, 9781452237787, 2005, pp. 243-244.
Probst, Robert E. “Words of Words: Prose and Poetry.” Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2000. N. pag. Print.
