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(1) Sandra Cisneros's "Mericans" is about a young American girl of Mexican descent who is struggling
between
her cultural heritage and American identity. (2) Cisneros illustrates this through a number of images
and ideas. (3) For example, the speaker, Micaela, calls her grandmother "awful," and seems to resent the
woman's strict views and religious ideals. (4) The speaker also mentions how she and her brother emulate
characters from popular American television programs when they play make-believe. (5) Lastly, she describes
physically standing outside her family's church, an act that symbolizes the fact that she feels like an outsider
to Mexican culture. (6) Although Micaela is of Mexican descent, she seems to feel a stronger connection to
the United States.
Which is the best thesis statement for the entire essay?
While the speaker of Okita's poem feels strongly about her identity as an American citizen, the speaker of
Cisneros's short story identifies more closely with her Mexican family.
Both Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story show that people can feel tension between their cultural heritage
and American identity due to racism and discrimination.
• The family members in Cisneros's and Okita's works play a significant role in the lives of both narrators as they
contemplate their place in hostile environments.
Cisneros and Okita rely on imagery to convey their ideas about American identity.
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