Outlaw: My Life In America As An Undocumented Immigrant
In the process of working toward the American Dream, people struggle to fit in, to belong, to be accepted. For many of them, an important part of the American Dream is the chance to reinvent themselves—the opportunity to become someone different, someone better. In “Outlaw: My Life in America as an Undocumented Immigrant”, Jose Antonio Vargas is an “undocumented immigrant” who has been living illegally in the U.S. since he was twelve years old. To chase his American dreams, he embodied a lie until it became unbearable and he expose his truth and let the masks crumble onto the ground. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. broke unjust laws and engaged in nonviolence direct action in order to pursue his American dream of equality and freedom. From Vargas to …show more content…
Chase dreams even if doing so is technically illegal. Throughout history, we have celebrated those who disobey unjust laws in the name of justice. Take Martin Luther King for example. “A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right of vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law.”(King, p469) However, all sorts of devious methods were used to prevent the colored from becoming registered voters. All men are created equal, but the colored were not given the equal rights to vote nor were they treated equally at that time. An unjust law is no law at all. Thus, why should the colored obey laws that were unjust? They had not only a legal and a moral responsibility to obey just laws, but a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. Undocumented immigrants today are carrying the torch of King. Immigrant-rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas has written extensively about the fact that
Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Elie Wiesel
475 Words | 2 PagesThere is one undeniable fact about life: Human Rights are a necessity. It is basic and bare minimum, yet we have struggled to respect those rights in the History of America and the history of the world as a whole. We have seen many activists focus on this topic, many of whom have made life easier for those whose differences seem to refuse them refuge, two of whom are Martin Luther King Jr., and Elie Wiesel. King and Wiesel were legendary activists whose ability to share stories of trauma and pain led to social change. King and Wiesel use literary devices such as repetition and metaphors to convey a message of equality and peace throughout their speeches.
The Latino Threat Summary
541 Words | 3 PagesIn Leo R. Chavez’s ethnography, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens, and the Nation, the claimed problem of Latino immigration, specifically Mexicans, is tackled using interviews, statistics, and other works of literature. Chavez’s ethnography not only discusses Latino immigration but Latino invasion, integration, organ transplants and even Latina fertilization. One of Chavez’s big topics is on how the media influences the public to believe that Latinos are planning an invasion or take-over in order to gain the land that was originally Mexico’s. The topic of Latina reproduction and fertilization comes up multiple times through Chavez’s ethnography. Another main topic that plays a part in Chavez’s argument is the Latino role in public marches and the citizenship aspect of their actions.
Theme Of On Being Brought From Africa To America
484 Words | 2 PagesWithin Ellis Island by Joseph Bruchac, On Being Brought from Africa to America by Phillis Wheatley, and Europe and America by David Ignatow there are different views of what the American Dream is and what it means to immigrants. Each author writes about their own experience of immigration and life in America, which shapes their view of the American dream. The common theme between the three poems is the variable nature of the American dream and how it has different meanings for each person coinciding with contradictions between leisure and suffering.
Pathos In Letter From Birmingham Jail
477 Words | 2 PagesDr martin Luther king jr is an influential figure in civil rights. While in jail for peacefully protesting he received a letter telling him that protests are "unwise and untimely. " In response to this, he wrote a letter from jail. He uses ethos pathos and allusion to establish himself as a credible leader.
Pathos In Letter From Birmingham Jail
858 Words | 4 PagesKing’s use of pathos in his rebuttal gives his audience a chance to foresee his involvement in Birmingham; however, when he states, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” he implies that this movement involves more than Birmingham, and that is when King felt it was necessary as a citizen, that stands for equality and freedom, steps in and does the right thing for his neighbors. King also reminded those who criticized his activism, that people in other areas of the world are headed in the right direction, at a rapid pace, while individuals of color in America struggle for the right to enjoy a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. He relates the issue of equality in Birmingham to a “stiff creep at horse-and-buggy pace,” compared to the other parts of the world, and this reinforces King’s focus on the rights of those in Birmingham. King uses details of his conditions in a long narrow jail cell to describe the length and quality of the letter he composed while incarcerated.
Diary Of Undocumented Immigrant Analysis
937 Words | 4 PagesThe Diary of an Undocumented Immigrant is a biographical novel written by Ramon Perez and published in 1991. The narrative follows our storyteller and author Perez through his journey from a Zapotec village in Oaxaca, Mexico over the border, illegally of course (hence the title) into The United States where he experiences the many facets of American culture before returning to his home village two years later as a celebrated hero. Now, you might be wondering why that sentence was structured to deliberately include the word “hero,” it’s really quite simple. The topic of illegal immigration has always been a touchy subject between nations and the opinion of whether or not the immigrant accused is a “hero” or “villain” relies totally, on which side the controversy is viewed from. Having spent the past 237 pages shadowing Perez’s journey I feel compelled to see things from his standpoint.
Examples Of The American Dream In Of Mice And Men
1801 Words | 8 PagesThe initial paragraphs of John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men introduces Lennie and George, two men living on the road, in search of a job. Both men have dreams of their own and depend on each other in order to achieve them. George takes care of Lennie, who is mentally incapable, while Lennie provides company to George. These men wander around hoping to achieve the American Dream. They continue to go after it, without realizing that they will never be able to obtain it.
Personal Narrative: My Immigration To America
553 Words | 3 PagesAs a teenager moving to a new country with a different culture, different language, and being thousands of miles away from everyone I grew up with was not an easy change, however, that was precisely what I did in January of 2013 when I came to the United States with my father. My whole world changed since, and shaped my way of thinking. From learning English, adjusting to a new culture, experiencing my first snow and finding my way in my new country, my life has been an exciting adventure. My parents brought me to America almost 5 years ago to have a better life, and to get a better education.
Themes In The Tortilla Curtain
920 Words | 4 PagesThe American Dream differs from person to person. Every dream consists of striving towards success for a better future. In The Tortilla Curtain, T.C Boyle delves into what the American Dream is to the middle class American family, the Mossbacher’s, and to the illegal immigrant family, the Rincon’s. Throughout the story, it becomes apparent that that the ability for the poverty-stricken Rincon family to achieve their dream is unrealistic. The American Dream is presented to be close to unobtainable to those who need it the most through the use of the coyote, the Arroyo Blanco community, and Cándido’s luck.
Summary Of Letter From Birmingham Jail
834 Words | 4 PagesEvery immigrant has a story to tell, and whether they immigrated by themselves or with their families, they share the common reason to start a new beginning. Immigrants entering America from another country don’t always receive fair or equal treatment. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his essay, "Letter from Birmingham Jail", about many topics regarding equality between different ethnic groups. Even though King wrote about African-Americans and equal rights in America, he's expressing the same opinion about every individual who isn’t welcomed into their current country. He was known for being a promoter against unfair treatment and inequality.
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Letter From Birmingham Jail
1135 Words | 5 PagesDr. King also included definitions and examples of unjust and just laws, and how they are not right. He included an example of these “laws” by talking about the things Adolf Hitler did was allowed but supposedly helping someone was not allowed. He writes and uses the letter to show the white Americans that are unaware of what is happening around them. Even, though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is best remembered for his powerful voice and pathos in this letter is a thoughtful logical argument. Rhetorical Situations: Writer:
I Have A Dream And Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun
1064 Words | 5 PagesAs many of us have read, it is stated in Dr. King’s speech, “But one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free.” (King 1). By reading this,
My Life As An Undocumented Immigrant Essay
1111 Words | 5 PagesThe Back of a Nonexistent Line In the film Documented and The New York Times article “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant,” Jose Antonio Vargas describes his experience as an undocumented immigrant in the United States and provides a passionate argument for creating a pathway to citizenship for others like Vargas, who are undocumented as well. Although both the film and article give the viewers and readers an insight into Vargas’ difficult journey, a particular scene in the film sends an unspoken message about the United States as a whole. In Documented, the scene in which Jose Antonio Vargas attends a Mitt Romney campaign rally is detrimental to the immigration debate because it demonstrates the need for Americans to be educated about undocumented
Compare And Contrast Gettysburg Address And I Have A Dream Speech
213 Words | 1 PagesBoth lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King's “I have a dream” speech are similar in that they both express the concept of freedom to achieve their purpose. However, they each have different ideas about freedom, and about what they want their audience to do. Both influential speeches rely heavily on rhetorical devices to convey their purpose. In King’s speech, the use of sensory and visceral language is abundant, creating an emotional and powerful atmosphere. “Manacles of discrimination,” “Lonely island of poverty” and “Chains of discrimination” paint a bleak picture of life as a minority in America, and contrasts phrases such as “Bright day of justice” and “Sacred obligation” which symbolize freedom.
Analysis Of Crevecoeur's Letters Of An American Farmer
441 Words | 2 PagesOne becomes and American by forgetting ways or “prejudices” that keep them from receiving a grand position on the “lap of our great Alma Mater.” He writes that the labors performed by the countrymen aid in earning the title freeman. All of the title holders have received ample rewards and benefit from “wanting a vegetative mold.” He believes that the diversity of the freemen here will and should cause tremendous changes to the world.
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