(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Shadowed Lives


             This story describes in the details of what undocumented workers had to go through to make a living for their families, not only in their country (or lack of) but mainly crossing over to the United States. The conditions, the hiding, the risk of arrest, leaving family member behind, and even the risk of death, simply to find a means to survive.
             Culture is learned, therefore I believe this story definitely relates to these undocumented workers. It seems that most of the undocumented workers have recognized, as a child, their parents or friends leaving and returning from the United States trying to make a better life for them, which in turn has laid the foundation for them. It was stated that most of the undocumented migrants that flee to the United States have had family and/or friends who have been or already there who teach or assist them in what they need to know. Without the passed on knowledge and social contact it would be more difficult for one just to imagine migrating. There was a specific example in the story where the father left every summer and would return, when his son grew up and thought about what his father did to get ahead, he asked his father to help him cross to the United States so he could do the same. .
             The children that were taken from the beginning or even born in the United States after the undocumented workers had established themselves, I believe had the biggest part in culture change. Education definitely played a big role, learning the local culture as well as mastering the English language. The younger they were when getting to the United States, the more English was used because of school, friends, and even television and Spanish was mainly learned at home. Not only were the parents the only one teaching them Spanish at home but they were still trying to educate them of their culture from Mexico (or other country). The children most of all seem to be caught up between two cultures; where they may not be truly recognized as "Americans" but with being proficient in English and not really being educated in Spanish except by their parents at home which would cause them to be treated different in Mexico.


Essays Related to Shadowed Lives


Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question