HNAR-210: Immigrant/1st Gen American Lit

American Literature as we now know it was in its very beginnings composed largely of the voices of people who arrived to this continent from somewhere else, as a political and economic refugees, religious pilgrims or captive slaves. Today, American Literature is still enriched by the voice of The Immigrant and/or The First Generation American, each of whom navigate geographies and cultural systems sometimes parallel to "native-born" Americans or in the shadows as invisibles/undesirables. Often, their stories reveal truths about the culture in which they arrive, and provide opportunities for thoughtful discussion about context, story-telling and the current state of the "new Americans." We will read novels and a memoir published in the last twenty years, as well as other selective readings from current events to inform our discussion and writing projects.