American Like Me

America Ferrera takes issue with the concept of “American.” Why was Ferrera confused with the term as a child, and what does American mean to Ferrera now?

Pick three essays from the collection and compare the authors’ approach to what it means to be both American and an immigrant.

Frank Waln uses the term “alchemist” to explain his experience with the US. Provide a summary of Waln’s essay. Why does Waln use this term, and how are he and his grandmother alchemists?