American Migrant Communities

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

In this class, we will explore various American migrant communities and discuss the many facets and difficulties of American identity. What are the benefits and drawbacks of migratory movement? What should one's relationship be to assimilation? What does migration do to the idea of one's homeland? Although we will be working chronologically, our progress will be atypical. This circuitous route through the literature in this class will be a literary journey that echoes the various movements of people in the United States. Potential authors we read may include: Sui sin Far (Edith Maude Eaton), Anzia Yezierska, Nella Larsen, Sanora Babb, William Saroyan, Carlos Bulosan, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Tomás Rivera, Arturo Islas, Julia Alvarez, Fae Myenne Ng, Chang-rae Lee, Janet Campbell Hale, and Tommy Orange.