CSUN America Is In the Heart Discussion

This Discussion tests whether you took the whole journey of reading all of America Is In the Heart while exploring some of the core issues of this classic of Asian American literature. Please respond to ALL THREE (3) of the prompts below but note that your overall response only needs to be 700 words long. You may exceed this word count if you wish but please keep your overall response to under 1400 words. 

1. What are, in your opinion, the THREE (3) most extreme examples of racial, gender, and class exploitation that Carlos Bulosan experiences or witnesses in America Is In the Heart? Describe EACH instance with at least THREE (3) detailed sentences. State where in the book each scene occurs, using in-text citations, and describe the context in which they occur relative to the arc of Bulosan’s life story. 

2. Bulosan has a complex relationship with white women throughout the length of America Is In the Heart. These women come from different social classes, treat or are treated by Bulosan differently, and occupy differing roles in Bulosan’s life as he transforms from Allos in Part One, to Carlos in Part Two, to Carl in Parts Three and Four. Bulosan becomes acquainted with some white women well enough to know their full names such as Dora Travers, Alice and Eileen Odell, and Lucia Simpson. Others he knows only by first name like Helen or Maria or simply have roles in brief, nameless encounters. Write briefly but clearly about THREE (3) white women whom Bulosan encounters who each play different roles in Bulosan’s life story. What unique or specific role does EACH woman play in Bulosan’s life? Cite the relevant details you use from the book with in-text citations.

3. Go online and learn as much as you can from good sources about the legal case of Roldan v. Los Angeles CountyLinks to an external site.. Find and read the part in America Is In the Heart where Bulosan discusses this case. What was this case about and what happened with its decision? Summarize Bulosan’s opinion about the Roldan case. Finally describe ONE (1) example of how the anti-miscegenation laws that the Roldan decision temporarily overturned affected Filipino men in America Is In the Heart.