E Pluribus Unum: "out of many, one."
Every day, we encounter this Latin phrase. It appears on our dollar bills and adorns the official Seal of the United States. But what does it mean? How does it represent our country? Our founding fathers adopted this phrase in 1872 to signify the union of many disparate states into one nation, but how does it represent our country today?
In the current context of immigration and American identity, "E Pluribus Unum" still represents our ever-changing and ever-growing nation. We are a country comprised of many different cultures, ethnicities, languages, and beliefs. Though the diversity of our people is continually evolving, we are still united as one nation.
At Oakland International High School, a public high school in Oakland for English Language Learners, this uniquely American diversity is always apparent. New students come in almost every week; for many of them, OIHS is their first school in the United States. Though we only have 300 students, they come from 31 countries and speak 29 languages other than English. Each of these students has a story. Not all of them have a way of communicating it.
In Art class, 9th and 10th graders are asked to tell their immigration story in the form of a comic. For many of them, comics are also a new language that they have to learn. The comics shown here are a sampling of the many stories that have come out of this project. They are an attempt to answer the question, "Who am I?" and collectively, the question of "Who are we?" Through these stories, we gain insight into the motives, challenges and dreams of our newest immigrants as they become part of the complex fabric of America.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
This book is a compilation of immigration stories from students at Oakland International High School. The stories have been used as "texts" for middle school students at several local schools who are studying the causes and effects of immigration. Several of the stories have also been used with Cal Berkeley undergrad and grad programs dealing with immigration, education, and sociology. The drawings are lovely and their stories depict the amazing journeys immigrants take to reach our land of opportunity.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Vita Wells
I couldn't put We Are Oakland International down until the end, so deeply was I engaged in the stories of these high schoolers coming to Oakland from all over the world. In addition to the profound dislocation experienced by anyone radically shifting their context, most of these young people have come to the US under very difficult circumstances, fleeing war, violence, economic deprivation, natural disaster... That they have survived and are hopeful is nothing less than remarkable. And terribly humbling. The abundance and security in which most of us live is too often taken for granted. These stories remind me that those are not GIVENS in this world, but are GIFTS, gifts to be recognized, appreciated, cared for, and shared.
The courage and perseverance of the young people is to be celebrated. The work of those enabling these young people should not be overlooked, however. Throughout the stories I see the essential roles played by NGO and public sector professionals, supporting and enabling these young people to find their ways into healthy, productive, self-sufficient citizenship.
This is a reminder of what we're here for, and that despite the front page news, day after day, there is much good being done, and that our efforts, votes, tax dollars, charitable dollars, and general moral support make a difference. A big difference.
It's a good read. It's an important read.
The courage and perseverance of the young people is to be celebrated. The work of those enabling these young people should not be overlooked, however. Throughout the stories I see the essential roles played by NGO and public sector professionals, supporting and enabling these young people to find their ways into healthy, productive, self-sufficient citizenship.
This is a reminder of what we're here for, and that despite the front page news, day after day, there is much good being done, and that our efforts, votes, tax dollars, charitable dollars, and general moral support make a difference. A big difference.
It's a good read. It's an important read.
By emb
This book is a wonderful compilation of stories, of fragments of children's lives. Its simplicity and authenticity make it a very precious book. The stories are simple and moving and the drawings are fabulous. The work done by Oakland International High School is outstanding and this book is one expression of it.
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