Child of the Americas

Child of the Americas

Introduction

The poem “Child of the Americas” by Aurora Levins Morales speaks for those who are faced with a struggle to find their voices and identities; it highlights issues related to history and experience of different cultures and races. In the backdrop of these many differences, Morales tries to find something in common that would enable the people to live in harmony with each other, despite maintaining a strong pride for their cultural heritage.

Discussion

“Child of the Americas” is a poem that reflects the pride of the poet in her ancestral heritage. This is brought about in her language that speaks highly of the mix of race and culture to which she belongs. Through her poem, she is not trying to come up with any excuse for what she is, but rather depicts the pride she feels in being what she is, and the ancestral heritage she holds. The language demonstrates that the author was unsuccessful in finding ways to change herself. It was rather history that made her the way she stands today.

“I am new. History made me. “

She portrays herself as a part of different cultures, and being different on account of the different identities and being the descendant of the immigrants. The language though speaks of pride, but yet a strong sense of resentment accompanies her tone throughout the poem. The problem that the author is facing is that she cannot identify herself with one race, and she is confounded with the problem of identity even though she takes a strong pride at her cultural background. This is because she does not have merely one identity; she has multiples of identity that besets her with a deep problem (ANDERSON, 2005).

“I am not African. Africa is in me,”

“I am not Taína. Taíno is in me,”

“I am not European. Europe lives in me,”

Morales tries to find herself an identity towards the end of the poem by stating “I am whole.” Morales tries to first define her identity with her past ancestral background, but simultaneously she wants to identify herself with her present life. Also the language she wants to identify with herself is Spanglish which may in fact, refer to her likeness for the culture she wants to be identified with. It may reflect her desire to be seen as more of an American with European descent than be viewed largely for her Puerto Rican heritage (ANDERSON, 2005).

Whatever the case maybe, she wants to find herself a place in America like the millions of other immigrants have been doing in the past. The poem seems more of an effort by the writer to be viewed in her present situation in which she stands out as an American despite the many cultures and races that she is a part of. This is evident because the poem not only deliberates about the mixing of cultures, but it also refers to the mixing of races (Turner, 1991).

The poet refers to her language as being the ...