Question

Can somebody help simplify this essay and take out all of the unnecessary parts?

Though the speakers in Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story have strong roots in foreign cultures, both of them feel more connected to their American identities. The narrator's describe their identities in both ""Mericans"" and ""In Response to Executive Order 9066"" not based on their ethnicity, but where they believe they belong and relate the most. Inside each text, both authors explain this differently. Through ""Mericans," the author prefers to use similarities in how the narrator feels compared to how her grandmother feels and by using examples of American culture. In "Mericans,"""the author uses the emotions of both the grandmother and the narrator to show their opinions on how they see their identities. "The awful grandmother knits the names of the dead and the living into one long prayer fringed with the grandchildren born in that barbaric country with its barbaric ways.""
Although the grandmother sees the U.S. in a bad light and also strongly identifies with the Mexican culture and church, the girl doesn't feel the same way. Another way that the author shows identity differently from Okita is by using references to American pop culture: ""I want to be a flying feather dancer, too, but when he circles past me, he shouts,""I'm a B-Fifty-two bomber, you're a German,""and shoots me with an invisible machine gun."" The use of these references shows the connectivity of the narrator to American culture. In ""Response to Executive Order 9066,""Dwight Okita chooses to use different methods while still following a similar idea. By using the narrator's direct thoughts, it allows the reader to take a deep look at the girls' own ideas about their identity. "If it helps any, I will tell you I have always felt funny using chopsticks, and my favorite food is hot dogs." The narrator expresses these thoughts to show that even though she is Japanese, that doesn’t mean she feels that way.
This is evident in her dislike of chopsticks and enjoyment of American food. An additional way in which the author uses a technique different from that of Mericas is to use the different views of others. "You’re trying to start a war," she said, "giving secrets away to the enemy."Why can’t you keep your big mouth shut?" Using Dwight's best friends' view of her identity shows that even though Dwight feels like she's American, others may not see her as one. While both texts have examples of various ways of delivering a common message, there are differences within the texts that have the same purpose as well. The two authors use the narrator's opinions as an example of this. "I gave her a packet of tomato seeds and asked her to plant them for me. I told her that when the first tomato ripened, she’d miss me.""
Dwight's own opinions are present in the text as well as those of the narrators in ""Mericans"": ""I don't mind being Ming the Merciless, but I don't like being Mud People."" Both narrators use their thoughts to form clear opinions on topics as well as their cultural identities. In addition to opinions, another shared device is how others see girls based on their looks. "But you speak English!" "Yeah," my brother says, "we’re Mericans". The lady assumes that he doesn't speak English because of his appearance, but in reality, he doesn't identify himself as Mexican.

Answer 1

The characters across Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story illustrate a connection to American identities that transcends ethnic heritage, exemplifying America's diverse national identity. Literature reflects this multicultural sensibility, exploring identity and culture through various personal experiences.

Step-by-step explanation:

In contrasting the characters of Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story, both explore the idea of identifying more with their American identities than with their ethnic backgrounds. Despite their strong foreign cultural roots, their sense of belonging is deeply tied to America, signifying a diverse national identity that goes beyond their ethnicity.

This notion reflects the emerging multicultural sensibility in American literature, where authors like Cisneros and Okita navigate identity and culture within their works, showcasing a spectrum of American experiences influenced by their personal and cultural histories.

Exploration of identity in literature has become especially crucial as America's demographic becomes increasingly diverse, with the importance of understanding and teaching these perspectives within education. Works by authors such as Alice Walker, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Cathy Park Hong illustrate the various facets of American identity, whether it be through gender, ethnicity, or cultural background—each contributing to the increasing complexity and richness of the American narrative.