What it Means to be an American

This week, we discussed pieces by Amy Tan, Maya Angelou, and Sherman Alexie. All of these pieces involved some sort of racial conflict, both external and internal. Amy Tan wishes to appear more American and not seem weird to her crush Robert. Maya Angelou describes the constantly waging war between blacks and whites. Finally, Sherman Alexie describes what being a Native American is like in the new American world. While all of these authors are proud of their identity, I feel as if there is something they all fail to realize. There is no strict definition of what it means to be American. This nation, founded by a mixture of immigrants, isn't all one single race. It's a melting pot of different races and that is why we can call this country great. I am as much American as is Amy Tan, as is Maya Angelou, as is Sherman Alexie, as is the voice actor for Ford truck commercials. Any citizen of the U.S. that is proud of contributing their race to this unique country is an American. Amy Tan doesn't need a new nose to be American, and her mother is partially wrong to think that inside, Amy must be proud that she isn't. However, only by accepting she is different, can Amy truly experience what it is like to be an American. There is a great example of this going on right now in the Olympics. The U.S. team(also including Summer Olympics) involves a variety of foreign teammates including Chinese, Russian, Kenyan, Mexican, and many other races of athletes. A person of any race can become an American. Just as Jill Geer, the U.S. tracks & field communications director points out about foreign athletes, "no one considers them anything but American."