The American Dream, which suggests anyone who works hard can achieve success, has been unevenly realized by immigrants to this country. For some who were able to attain citizenship, their efforts propelled them to the high reaches of economic success. Others, whose immigrant status forces them to live in the shadows, try to forge a semblance of a meaningful life. Yet even for those who have prospered, the cracks in the America’s shiny façade compel them to find solutions. They draw from the lessons of their homelands as examples.
George Danis was born and raised on a farm in rural Greece. He entered the U.S. as an illegal immigrant, yet decades later was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his philanthropic endeavors and promotion of democracy. A wonderful storyteller, his engaging memoir, “Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek“, is also a call to action. He believes democracy has been hijacked by big corporations, lobbyists, and self-serving politicians. Applying lessons from growing up in a Greek village where neighbors helped neighbors and the community banded together to solve problems, Danis implores citizens in the U.S. to take action to solve our seemingly intractable problems. He asserts, “As citizens we must move from seeing politics as a spectator sport to viewing it as a forum in which we can all participate.”
Jean Tren-Hwa Perkins was born to a dirt-poor family during China’s disastrous Yangtze River flood in 1931. Unwanted like so many Chinese girls, she was adopted by American medical missionaries, but was later trapped in Communist China. In her posthumous memoir, “Spring Flower: A Tale of Two Rivers“, completed by her son, Richard Perkins-Hsung, readers are given a startling insider’s account of Chinese history as Perkins’ husband was jailed and her family torn apart by Communism. Forced to leave family members behind, she immigrated to the U.S. where she pursued a career as an ophthalmologist and raised a son. Bridging two centuries, the complete three-volume memoir, of which this is the first, brings to life themes of displacement, hope, and a woman coming into her own power.
In her book, “Crisis Capable: Building Your Capacity to Survive and Succeed in Every Environment“, Fabiana Lacerca-Allen shares her experiences growing up in Argentina in the 1970s when the country was under military dictatorship. The views of her father, a leading proponent for a democratic government, put her family in constant danger. Lacerca-Allen applies lessons she learned that helped keep her and her family from abduction and possible murder — with more than one close call — to helping others become better aware of their surroundings, improve their leadership strategies, and make decisions even when the information they have is limited. She emphasizes that whether one is living in a war zone or combating professional blockades, knowing how to interpret the factors at play better positions one to take decisive action in whatever challenges come their way.
In “Reimaging America’s Dream: Making It Attainable for All“, Bernie J. Mullin describes his journey immigrating from England to the U.S. and eventually becoming CEO of a highly successful sport and entertainment company. He then examines how the American Dream has faded for too many. Mullin explores the top 10 social issues that our country is wrestling with and adeptly offers an “American Prescription” that starts with reducing poverty by investing in free education for our youth. Mullin carefully details the programmatic costs and likely financial returns of his recommendations in the short, medium, and long term, using predominantly self-funded approaches. He then outlines the impact this could have in the future benefit of our children and American society as a whole. Mullin is devoting all proceeds from the book to The Aspire Difference Foundation, which provides financial and educational support for single-parent families with pre-school children.
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, called “the most famous undocumented immigrant in America,” puts a human face on immigrants in the U.S. in his riveting memoir, “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen“. Vargas, born in the Philippines and sent to live with his grandparents in the U.S. at age 12, has no clear path to citizenship. Still, as a journalist, filmmaker, and producer, he has been a leading voice for the human rights of the 11 million immigrants whose fate is increasingly under threat. His story transcends politics and policy, focusing on the psychological cost of living life in the shadows and in an ongoing unmoored state.
The promise of a better life in America has drawn immigrants to this country for some five centuries. Whether seeking economic opportunities, freedom from political instability, or reprieve from religious persecution, America has offered a beacon of hope. As these books reveal, some immigrants are able to capitalize on that hope, while others are caught in a bureaucratic maelstrom.