Picture Us in the Light

In Picture Us in the Light, Kelly Loy Gilbert includes a criticism of the ways in which contemporary undocumented Americans are treated by society. Danny’s parents do not have their green cards anymore, which technically makes them “illegal aliens.” But Gilbert rejects and subverts this term, highlighting the humanity, love, resilience, and work ethic of Danny’s parents instead. In contemporary America, immigration rights are very much part of the national-political-social consciousness. Administrative efforts to support the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) detaining and deportation of undocumented Americans have increased significantly in the past decades, making America a dangerous place for people who are not lucky enough to be born into American citizenship. Gilbert highlights Danny’s parents’ experiences as an example of what many Americans go through. They can’t return to their home country because their life there is long over, and they don’t want to be separated from their American children. But Danny’s parents also can’t work or even walk around, without fear of being caught. Living in fear is damaging to the psyche, and Gilbert endears her reader to Danny’s familial situation to teach them an important lesson about the dangers of dehumanizing others.