Mother Of Exiles

Is there such a thing as "one hundred percent american"? In his essay from 1937 anthropologist Ralph Linton pondered just that question:

"One Hundred Percent American"

In America is an emotional roller coaster. This 2002 film written by Jim, Naomi, and Kirsten Sheridan as a loosely-semi-biographical account of the way the Sheridan family moved to the United States of America.

Ozomatli is a great band with a strong history of activist songs that sing the story of immigrants and minorities in the United States.

I was listening to their relatively simple but beautiful song "Cuando Canto" and it (not surprisingly) inspired me. So, here are the lyrics in both Español y Ingles, para los gabachos (that's lyrics in English).

Cuando Canto by Ozomatli

Cuando canto mi cancion inspirar mi gente con una solucion
Cuando desperto en la manana se que tengo el poder para un dia triumfar

Inspiration: Your tired, Your poor...yearning to breathe free

In Emma Lazarus famous poem The New Colossus she describes her personal interpretation of the Statue of Liberty. Lazarus' brief poem captures many of the concepts and ideals that people have for America as a land of opportunity, a shining city on the hill where poor exiles from around the world can seek freedom:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;