America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan (604-610)
Go back to Stockton and look for a job in the tomato fields…(604)
I was in flight, again from an unknown terror that seemed to
follow me everywhere. (604)
Niles (grape fields and apricot trees)
San Jose got on a freight going south
Salinas to San Luis Obispo
Filipino man too him by car to Pismo Beach.
…community was a small block near the sea- a block of
poolrooms, gambling houses, and little green cottages where prostitutes were
doing business. (606)
Filipino man took him to Lompoc, passed through Santa Maria
I came to know afterwards that in many ways it was a crime
to be a Filipino in California. I came to know that the public streets were not
free to my people….. We were suspect each time that we were seen with a white
woman. And perhaps it was this narrowing of our life into an island, into a
filthy segment of American society, that driven Filipinos like Doro inward,
hating everyone and despising all positive urgencies toward freedom. (606)
Standing behind him was my brother Amado, holding a
long-bladed knife. (607)
My brother grabbed me affectionately and for a long time he
could not say a word. (608)
“We are in the bootleg racket,” said my brother. “Alfrado
and I will make plenty of money. But it is dangerous.” (609)
He put some money in my pocket. “Here is something for you
to remember me by.” (609)
“If you would like to go to school, “ said my brother in
parting, “just let me know. But whatever you do, Carlos, don’t lose your head.
Good-bye!” (610)
“Please, God, don’t change me in America!” I said to myself,
looking the other way so that I would not cry.” (610)
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