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Exploratory Synthesis
Writers come from many culturally diverse environments; this is what allows for many
different themes of writing. One worth mentioning is those who come from immigrant
backgrounds. An immigrant is one who comes to live permanently in a foreign country. Many
times, immigrants leave their home country due to unbearable extreme circumstances that have a
huge impact on them and how they write. Writing is a way for them to share their experiences
and assimilate into the mainstream of their new home. Through this medium, immigrant writers
are able to find their voice.
In “Finding Voice: Two Afro Caribbean Immigrant Members of the Academy Writing
‘Home’”, Janice B. Fournillier and Theodore Lewis discuss how Afro Caribbean immigrants are
able to find their voice in America. Fournillier and Lewis write an informative article to build up
what an islander’s voice is and how they create it. This article was written with eight subsections
and corresponding titles that go along with the theme of finding voice. Some of the titles are, but
not limited to, “Authenticity” and “You know who is me?” This format allows readers to be able
to see the writer’s trains of thought and the passage, most immigrant writers take, mapped out.
This article touches on how immigrant writers in America can push through hard times and use
their experiences to become a better writer; taking inspiration from immigrant writers that came
before them.
In “Create Dangerously, The Immigrant Writer at Work”, Edwidge Danticat expresses
her belief that immigrant artists should feel compelled to attest when their home countries are
going through hardships. Danticat writes a personal essay to share her experiences of being an
immigrant writer from a country dealing with catastrophes. This personal essay was written with
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forty short paragraphs which helps show her stance on the issue that even when you cannot
control a situation like your home country going through hardship, you just have to accept the
odds. This format helps readers visualize the events that Danticat shaped her as a writer in the
order of which they occurred. Danticat encourages her readers to write on their life experiences,
especially those who come from immigrant backgrounds.
In “Genetics of Justice”, Julia Alvarez discusses her experiences of immigration and the
hardships her family went through. Alvarez writes a personal essay to share her path of
becoming an immigrant writer and how the silence of her family served as encouragement. This
personal essay was written with thirty-two short paragraphs to show separation between
thoughts. The format of this piece helps readers understand the main points of her story and the
path she had to take to free her family from the silence. This essay discusses the impact of
