Carlos Bulosan’s idealism and ambition would seem to position him for certain success in America, even given how young he is when he first makes the journey from the Philippines. However, after arriving in Seattle, employers are far more concerned with his Filipino background than they are with his character. Low-paying jobsβand an uncertain futureβremain his daily reality. Working the harvest trail from the Pacific Northwest down to California, Bulosan is subject to labor disputes, police brutality, vigilantism, and racial prejudice, but he somehow manages to retain his spirit, his drive, and his belief in a better future. A moving exploration of life on the social and economic margins, America Is in the Heart is a vital testimony of Asian American literature.
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