Allow your mind to make connections between what you read and your own experiences and sense of things.

Most of our readings reveal information that tens of thousands of Native Americans were here in America long before Columbus and his people. They explain how they were successful farmers and traders, how they had their own diverse languages, arts and how they were actually very intelligent. By Columbus calling America a "New World" he exploited the fact that they were already settled and living there. Some people have made it seem as though Native Americans weren't civilized people. The Spaniards and Englishmen treated them unequally and used them as slaves.  Our generation is lucky to have the laws and constitution that we have. Nowadays all races and genders are treated equally, having all the same opportunities. History has improved itself throughout the years and we now know that everyone, no matter what age, religion or anything else that differs people from each other should be a deciding factor of how they are treated. I feel extremely lucky to be an American. Although some of our readings had different views, Emma Lazarus stated that anyone with a dream is welcome in America with open arms. I believe that America gives everyone a fair opportunity and is an amazing place to call home.

How have your definition and ideas of American identity been challenged?

After going through and analyzing our reading assignments and having our class discussion, my view of being an American has changed in a certain way. I've always thought that being an American is a blessing and that we are so lucky to have had the opportunities, equality, and freedom that we have in this country. Where men and women are created equal, and where we have an official document stating all of our rights that give us our freedoms. After our class, I do still believe all of that. I still truly think that living in America is such a privilege because we are able to have lives in which we choose what we want to be, who we want to be, and where we want to live. In other countries people are not given those benefits, such as in India, where nine year olds are getting married to people who are picked out by their parents. So although I do think that being an American is a blessing, my view has been changed a little. Reading Hughes poems, "I, Too," and "Let America Be America Again," I realize that not all people feel the same as I do. Some people in America may have a different opinion and think it is not all that great. People don't all have the same experience growing up in America and now I am more sympathetic to the fact that not all people enjoy living here. So overall although I still think living in America is wonderful, I know now that not everyone has those same feelings and I am understanding to that.