What does it mean to be an American, especially if you're an immigrant or have immigrant parents? In this thought-provoking collection of essays, actor and political activist America Ferrera has gathered people she deeply admires to discuss the concept of being American. They are successful Olympic athletes, politicians, writers, actors and others who have faced racism and prejudice because they are not white or speak English with an accent.
Many of the stories reflect the turning point, most often in childhood, when the person was forced to recognize that they were indeed different from their peers; they ate different food, wore different clothes, celebrated different holidays or had unusual names. Some have been proud of their heritage and embraced it from the start while others felt shame until they grew older, only later learning to honor their dissimilarities along with the sacrifices and difficulties their parents and grandparents faced. Whether Mexican, Puerto Rican, from Central or South America or from a variety of Asian countries, each person has a story that pushes for reflection on what American identity really is--a concept that goes far beyond skin tone and language barriers. Ferrera writes, "We live as citizens of a country that does not always claim us or even see us, and yet, we continue to build, to create, and to compel it toward its own promise." It's high time the U.S. recognized all of its citizens, and American Like Me is a great way to start. --Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer