American_Me

B In Ninfa Miranda-Maloney poem, “American Me” she writes about a man that has crossed over the Mexican-Texas border by buying a visa back in 1955. She describes the main character in a stereotypical, derogating way of Mexicans in Texas. She mentioned that he was a water-melon eating Mexican, with spit shine shoes and slicked back hair, ready to go. The interesting thing about her poem is she also writes about the work effort that is portrayed by many non-Americans. The way they travel anywhere and everywhere to do a job and break there back for a couple of pennies. They have been considered the social scum of American society, but they have also built American on their blood and sweat. The worst part of the character identification is the fact after 50 years of back breaking work and trying to survive and fit in as an American, he still cannot even speak the language, a sign of his lack of education. C. I have had an odd life, I am originally born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but since the age of 8 I have lived in the beautiful Virgin Islands. In a way I understand what the man in “American Me” went through in his life. For the last 23 years I have grown up in a predominantly black society. Everywhere I go people refer to me as the white boi. When growing up I was stereotyped as an American white male, spoiled self-centered, and thinking that I was better than everyone else. I worked harder than everyone I grew up with to be accepted as a virgin Islander. I was always told that I had to pay for things that were considered free for other. In a sense I grew up in a twilight zone of the Jim Crow South. What I learned from it is somewhat similar to the man in Ninfa Miranda-Maloney poem “American Me”. I learned that I would never be accepted in the Virgin Islands as a Virgin Islander. I would always be considered a second class citizen, and never as equal to native islanders. I choose to stay in the Virgin Islands and return here after my stint of college. Many people asked me why I came back if I knew how I was going to be treated. My only reply was this is the only home I know. I am here and consider myself to be a “Virgin Islanders” just like the man in the poem considered himself an “American” even if society does not see use that way. We know we are and our families will benefit from it.