The True American Essay

Anand Giridharadas’ book, The True American, combines both sociology and history into a story that describes the constant struggles people have to endure daily. By bringing together the lives of many different people, Giridharadas describes what living in the United States is really like for the different cultures. He indirectly uses the story as an example of the false assumptions regarding certain groups of people and shows how things aren’t always as they seem. The True American argues that instead of living in a unified society, a great divide between immigrants and the American poor exists, which is caused by contradicting beliefs regarding the importance of family, as well as the prospect of education. The book takes place a few months after the attack of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This particular moment in history sparked many controversial feelings in various American citizens towards Muslims.

Although they are extremely similar in these areas, they are usually divided by cultural differences and the values they inherit from their families. In Raisuddin’s country, family is seen as a very important social institution, so they teach people from an early age that they should respect their parents and as Raisuddin said, “I’m not here to give her [my mother] company; I am here for her service, as her servant” (Giridharadas 160). People in such cultures believe that parents are the most essential part of their lives, and that everything they do or wish to do should be in hopes of bringing them honor. Another moment that depicts the importance of family for Raisuddin was right after he was shot. His family kept asking him to return to his home country, but he denied because he was afraid of going back and disappointing them. Raisuddin always put his family’s feelings and pride