I first got acquainted with Carlos Bulosan when I was a high school freshman. Though I can’t remember the particular work, I remember how moved I was after reading it. I relive the feeling with America is in the Heart - Allos’ stoic voice can’t play down his desolate (and to me personally they are sickening) early years in America, although his enlightenment in the end is redemptive. I find that some of his words still ring true today, having experienced myself a refined warmheartedness from Americans that I do not always receive from my own people, but also having been fully aware of some Americans’ savage violence that is most definitely not deserved by my people (or anyone else’s). Bulosan writes, “Why was America so kind yet so cruel? Was there no way to simplifying things in this continent so that suffering would be minimized? Was there no common denominator on which we could all meet?” And I think to myself, isn’t this true? - no matter the continent, or country, or people.
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