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| Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster |
“I believe that
culture shapes identity and defines possibility; that it teaches us who we are,
what to believe, and how to dream. We
should all be able to look at the world around us and see a reflection of our
true live experiences. Until then, the
American story will never be complete.”
-- America Ferrera
Inspiring. Courageous. Amazing.
Once again, actress
and activist America Ferrera has brought together a diverse group of
individuals who straddle two or more cultures to bring us a wonderful
collection of personal experiences that attempt to answer the question of “what
kind of American am I?”
Contributors to this anthology -- AMERICAN LIKE ME: Reflections on Life Between Cultures -- include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Laurie Hernandez, Diane Guerrero, Carmen Perez, Carmen Carrera, Randall Park, Michelle Kwan, Padma Lakshmi, etc.
Contributors to this anthology -- AMERICAN LIKE ME: Reflections on Life Between Cultures -- include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Laurie Hernandez, Diane Guerrero, Carmen Perez, Carmen Carrera, Randall Park, Michelle Kwan, Padma Lakshmi, etc.
Many readers will see
themselves reflected in these stories, but note that these are not immigrant
stories, these are American stories.
These are stories that make up the heart of this country for we are ALL
part of the Great American Narrative, and that is what makes America great.
Book summary:
America Ferrera has always felt wholly
American, and yet, her identity is inextricably linked to her parents’ homeland
and Honduran culture. Speaking Spanish at home, having
Saturday-morning-salsa-dance-parties in the kitchen, and eating tamales
alongside apple pie at Christmas never seemed at odds with her American
identity.
Still, she yearned to see that identity reflected in the larger American narrative.
Now, in American Like Me, America invites thirty-one of her friends, peers, and heroes to share their stories about life between cultures. We know them as actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers. However, they are also immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants, indigenous people, or people who otherwise grew up with deep and personal connections to more than one culture. Each of them struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen. And they call themselves American enthusiastically, reluctantly, or not at all.
Ranging from the heartfelt to the hilarious, their stories shine a light on a quintessentially American experience and will appeal to anyone with a complicated relationship to family, culture, and growing up.
Still, she yearned to see that identity reflected in the larger American narrative.
Now, in American Like Me, America invites thirty-one of her friends, peers, and heroes to share their stories about life between cultures. We know them as actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers. However, they are also immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants, indigenous people, or people who otherwise grew up with deep and personal connections to more than one culture. Each of them struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen. And they call themselves American enthusiastically, reluctantly, or not at all.
Ranging from the heartfelt to the hilarious, their stories shine a light on a quintessentially American experience and will appeal to anyone with a complicated relationship to family, culture, and growing up.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: America Ferrera is an award-winning actress,
producer, director and activist. Ferrera is best known for her breakthrough
role as “Betty Suarez” on ABC’s hit comedy, Ugly Betty, for which she won Golden Globe, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild,
ALMA, and Imagen Awards. She produces and stars in the acclaimed NBC
workplace comedy, Superstore, currently in its fourth season. In 2016 Ferrera cofounded
HARNESS, an organization connecting storytellers and activists to amplify the
cultural narrative around social justice. She speaks throughout the country as
an advocate for human and civil rights and was the opening speaker at the
monumental Women’s March on Washington in January 2017. Ferrera resides in
New York and Los Angeles with her husband Ryan, their son Sebastian, and their
two golden retrievers. Check out her latest Tweets at @AmericaFerrera.
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