In an asap interactive, JAIME HOLGUIN highlights five artists who explore the immigrant experience in their work.
What makes me Mexican? My dark skin? Or my madre's enchiladas?
And what makes me American? My Anglo friends? Or my tax filings?
As the son of Mexican immigrants, the questions are specific to me but they're applicable to many other something-Americans.
Immigrant families consistently sort through their feelings for the United States and their cultural heritage. As playwright Kayhan Irani says, "We have very specific images of America and the American dream. Very specific stories that are told over and over again that we're in love with, but that don't necessarily reflect reality."
Irani is one of five artists asap spoke to who are using their work to shed light on the plight of immigrants.
See the interactive video here___
Jaime Holguin is an asap reporter in New York. He still hasn't brought his mother's enchiladas into work.
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