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Perspective Discussion #3
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02/04/2026 1:03 pm
The main character Jende is an immigrant from Cameroon , he and his family moved to Harlem NY hoping for a better life. Jende gets a job as a chauffeur for the Lehman Brothers owned by Clark Edwards. His wife Neni is a college student and is in college to become a pharmacist. Jende works through the hardships of being an immigrant family hoping to find the “American Dream” in New York. The book mentions the financial hardship a lot too. The book slightly switches focus to the owner of Lehman Brothers. We read that Clark faces massive debt and falls into a hole of always working and becomes very absent from his family and wife. Neni ends up getting offered a job in the hamptons by the Edwards family as a housekeeper. Clark's wife Cindy turns to alcohol and painkillers due to her husband's absence, Neni ends up finding Cindy in that state and realizes she needs help. Jende is currently facing an ongoing immigration case that he seems to be struggling with since his lawyer keeps charging him little fees and sending him into more financial downfall. Clarks Business the Lehman Brothers ends up going bankrupt despite his efforts.
In the Ted talk "What's Missing from the American Immigrant Narrative,” Elizabeth describes her struggles as a 15 year old whose parents got deported to Mexico, she talks about how immigrants have expectations to either be minimum wage workers or the most successful “American Dream” stereotype, which ignores the real financial and mental struggles. She notes that “There is a cost to living the American dream” (Camarillo Gutierrez). A quote that relates to the american dream assumption from the book Behold the Dreamers “Cameroon we're happy and successful, well educated and respectful, and she'd come to believe that if they could flourish in America surely she could too.” (Mbue 312) Those quotes together show that the American Dream isn't always perfect and that immigrants see the top 1% of people who become crazy successful and that there is always a different side to the story.
Where in your story has someone had an assumption about how things should work out for them and been wrong? How did that impact their ability to succeed?
05/04/2026 4:17 pm
In the book I’m reading “Indivisible” by Daniel Aleman the main character Mateo Garcia wanted to be a professional actor. He went on to audition, but got turned down. After failing he felt horrible and even worse after his parents were both taken away a couple days later. “The casting director thanked me with a stone face, and I knew right at that second that I hadn’t gotten it.” (Aleman 5).
06/04/2026 10:29 am
In my book, Americanized, by Sara Saedi my character has a crush on a boy in her school. She imagined that he would want to be with her and walk together in the halls. She sat next to him and class but was shocked when he insulted her in front of everyone. This made her very unsecure and effected her throughout high school. From my book, "I imagined that Gideon would proudly hold my hand through the halls of our high school...what I never imagined Gideon doing in those fantasies: snickering at me in class and declaring, "you only have ONE eyebrow."' (43 Saedi)
10/04/2026 11:56 am
In my book Black enough edited by Ibi Zoboi the story Black Nerd Problems by Lamar Giles the character Cameron believed he was in control of all situations and was loved by all though this was shutdown and proved wrong when he tried to force his way into a relationship with Dayshia “‘Girl, come on. We were vibing at the bar earlier. All them grins and chuckles.’ ‘No. I’m a Nordstrom ambassador, and you were asking me about shiseido skin-care products. It was funny because you knew way more about the shit than I do.’” (Giles 92)
14/04/2026 12:49 pm
in my book a land of permanent goodbyes by Atia Abawi my character repeatedly assumes that if he just keeps pushing forwards out of Syria and into Europe that everything will work out for his family but he was wrong, he faces smugglers, overcrowded, unsafe refugee camps, corrupt or indifferent officials, and constant uncertainty. "he wanted everyone to be happy, and now he wants them all to live safely and peacefully- whether that be in Germany or in Syria, in america or in China. most of all, he doesn't want anyone to experience his loss" (Abawi 272)
21/04/2026 8:37 am
That's interesting, my main character Jende is also chasing his dreams in a new place.
21/04/2026 8:40 am
that's an intresting scene , my book dosent face issues like that necessarily but there has been instances were my main character Jende has been "picked on" by co-workers
21/04/2026 8:42 am
That's a tough situation , in my book one of the characters pushes through hardship and tries to save his failing business but even after his effort his business failed and went bankrupt.
22/04/2026 9:46 am
In “The Tyrant’s Daughter” by J. C. Carleson, Laila’s father wasn’t a good man in public and he got killed, but had a great relationship with his family. His death caused the family to have to move to the United States. Ever since that, they’ve had to deal with the image of their father and the entire family is trying to separate themselves from him. Unfortunately, everyone is giving them a really hard time about it and are still bringing up the past. Laila is forced to deal with her father’s mistakes over and over again.
in my book they start talking about her dad and asking her stuff when her dad is no longer around.
