Many studies have elucidated the experiences of African Americans and Asian Americans in the wake of oppression and racial injustice in the United States. Some literary texts have tried to respond to the culture of oppression that has confronted these groups of people by drawing similarities and differences in the struggle for racial equality. Carlos Bulosan’s America is in the heart narrates the experiences of Filipino Americans in a land embroiled in racism following their immigration into the country in the hope of finding equality. Although the story is represented through a poor young man growing up in Philippines before his eventual journey to the racist country-the United States. On her end, Toni Morrison’s Home describes the racial, economic and emotional oppression (purveyed by the era and circumstance at the time of her writing) of the people of color in the country. These literary works draw strange coincidences and evokes memories of a struggle that is unlikely to end soon.
Home exposes the tragedies that befall Frank Money. Money has a totally fractured present occasioned by the situation that surrounds his sister, Cee. He plunges into violent memories in a bid to evade the thoughts about the medical experiment that leaves Cee abused and abandoned by her husband (Morrison 17). Money’s experience at home is unpleasant after spending his time fighting in the Korean War. He comes back and finds a country that that is severely segregated and unwilling to recognize the role he played for the country. He shares a common experience with Leon, the brother to Carlos in America is in the heart. Carlos’s father reveals that like Money, Leon has been fighting in Europe and expresses his doubts on his return (Bulosan 4). However, Carlos and his father later realize that the Leon has returned home safely. The two books reveal two immigrant sons fighting a costly war in Europe and whose return into the country is not guaranteed. Again they both exposes the predisposition of African Americans and Asian Americans unpleasant duties such as fighting in defense of a country.
Works Cited
Morrison, Tony. “Home.” Vintage. 2013.
Bulosan, Carlos. “America is in the heart.” Washington. University of Washington Press.
2014
