Background
“American Street” was chosen because it presents a thoughtful and detailed discovery of how a teenage girl adapts to a new country and culture. The author uses her memories of balancing between two cultures since she moved to the US at the age of four with her family. This personal experience makes the novel especially unique and exciting to analyze.
Protagonist
The author tells the story of 16-year-old Fabiola Toussaint, who moved to the US with her mother and was detained at the airport until the end of the novel. The fact that her mother also tried to enter the US is important as it explains Fabiola’s future thoughts and actions. Namely, the girl tries to use every opportunity to make Manman closer to freedom. Since the immigration service retains Fabiola’s mother, the girl lives in the family of her aunt Joe and her three daughters, including Primadonna (Donna), Princess (Pri), and Chantal.
Fabiola Toussaint, the protagonist of “American Street,” is a complex character with several traits that define her. Three character traits that describe Fabiola are bravery, observance, and compassion. Firstly, it is noteworthy that the heroine, Fabiola, is brave. One quote that demonstrates her bravery is, “I am not afraid of dying. Death has always walked close—an earthquake, a hurricane, a disease, a thief and his knife” (Zoboi 203). This statement shows that despite the challenges she faces, Fabiola is not afraid to confront them.
Secondly, the main heroine is immensely observant. She pays close attention to her surroundings and the people she interacts with. A quote that exemplifies this trait is, “I’ve learned to notice these things about boys in Haiti” (Zoboi 69). This statement shows that Fabiola is perceptive and notices even the smallest details.
Lastly, Fabiola can be characterized as a compassionate person. The main heroine cares deeply about her family and friends. An example of her compassion is, “he laughs hard and for a long time, and I’m afraid that he’s not watching the road” (Zoboi 133). This quote demonstrates that Fabiola is empathetic and wants to comfort those who are hurting and help those people.
Setting
The setting of “American Street” is Detroit, Michigan, where the girl moved from Haiti to seek a better life. The events happen in the contemporary period, which makes it especially important for reading to understand some social and cultural problems of immigrants. The school located in West Detroit is used as a significant background that represents racism between African-Americans and Haitians, drug dealing, and abusive relationships. Some of the topics mentioned above are discussed throughout the book, such as the violence in the relationship between Dray and Donna, which lasted for years.
Tone
The tone of American Street is both realistic and poetic. The language used in the book is often lyrical, which creates a dreamlike atmosphere. An example of this is “the sun hides behind a concrete sky” (Zoboi 35). This statement creates a vivid image and sets the tone for the rest of the book.
However, the tone can also be described as realistic. The book does not avoid the use of slang and colloquial speech, such as “Dang! Where have you been all this time?” (Zoboi 11). This remark shows that the book is not a simple, beautiful narration,but includes life-like situations.
Point of View
Zoboi uses the first-person narrative to tell her story from Fabiola’s point of view, which allows for the translation of her thoughts and feelings into more detail. In addition, there are the voices of three cousins, who tell their actions and reflect on their thoughts.
Major Theme
The major theme of American Street is the struggle to find a sense of belonging. Fabiola and her family are immigrants who are trying to navigate a new culture and environment. A quote that supports this theme is, “We fold our immigrant selves into this veneer of what we think is African American girlhood” (Zoboi 215). This statement shows that Fabiola is struggling to find her place in this new world.
Another example of this theme is Fabiola’s relationship with her cousin Donna. A quote that demonstrates this is, “Donna is the beauty, and me, I’m the brawn” (Zoboi 28). This statement shows that Fabiola feels like an outsider compared to her cousin, who is more familiar with American culture.
Conflict and Identity
The setting of “American Street” is an important aspect of the novel and affects the heroine’s identity. The neighborhood where Fabiola lives is rough and dangerous, which affects her identity in several ways. Firstly, it forces her to be more independent and grow up fast. A quote that supports this is, “I learned how to fight” (Zoboi 33). This statement shows that Fabiola is forced to rely on herself to survive in this new environment.
Secondly, the setting also exposes Fabiola to new experiences and challenges. For example, she witnesses a shooting and is forced to deal with the aftermath. In the book, the heroine emphasizes the following: “I see a group of boys, but not the one who shot at us. They are running, and I know they’ll never be caught” (Zoboi 72). This statement shows that Fabiola is exposed to violence and danger, which impacts her identity.
Lastly, the setting also influences Fabiola’s relationships with others. An example of this is her relationship with Kasim. A quote that supports this is that he “sold some weed here and there for some change” and claims that he “ain’t no kingpin” (Zoboi 71). This quote illustrates that their different backgrounds make it difficult for them to connect, which affects Fabiola’s sense of identity.
Like many immigrants, Fabiola thought that living in America and having some family ties was a direct way to “une belle vie,” but the reality turned out to be much more complex. For example, Fabiola enters the local school and tries to adjust to an American culture that is filled with both poverty and an abundance of unhappiness. As a result, the protagonist experiences both internal and external conflicts. On the one hand, the young girl experiences violence and witnesses conflicts. On the other hand, the adaptation to the new culture and way of life leads to internal struggles and conflicts.
“American Street” is a book that explores the concept of identity in several ways. One way it does this is by showing how Fabiola’s Haitian background shapes her identity. A quote that illustrates this is, “I laugh a little, too, because this moment reminds me of being with my friends back in Haiti” (Zoboi 32). This statement shows that Fabiola’s heritage is an important part of who she is.
Furthermore, the book also shows how identity can be fluid and change over time. At the beginning, the reader sees how the young girl says the following: “I am alone” (Zoboi 8). However, toward the end, the heroine has a new approach to life: “I am strong and brave” (Zoboi 178). This statement shows that Fabiola is evolving and changing as she navigates this new world.
Images
Identity Development
This image above is the cover page of the book that the publisher and author probably chose in cooperation. It is the Haitian profile of a girl’s head with black, red, and blue colors inside, which seems to show her frustration, determination, and adaptation-related emotions. The eyes of the girl are as if covered by blue paint, which seems to mean that nobody taught her how to act in the new reality, and she had to do it on her own, making mistakes.
Immigration and Opportunities
This picture symbolizes many challenges of immigrating to the United States, such as cultural shock, a lack of money, family separation, and identity change. In the modern world, with its great emphasis on ethics and human-centeredness, families cannot be disintegrated. The example of Fabiola vividly shows how desperate the attempts of immigrants to reunite with their relatives are. Accordingly, social and political action should be taken by authorities to stop violence and racism, thus providing people with more opportunities and hope for “une belle vie.”
Faith as a Guiding Force
This image symbolizes Fabiola’s faith and her connection to her family. The girl compares herself to a mountain that is presented in the background of the picture, which symbolizes a strong desire to climb higher and achieve a better life. Likewise, the girl in the image, Fabiola, aims to shine bright and catch opportunities.
For example, she tries to release her mother or help her cousins and friends, using available ways and focusing on communication, courage, and critical thinking. Faith becomes the main strength and source of inspiration that keeps the girl on the right path. Acting like many other newcomers, she could also begin drug dealing, yet she prefers to cooperate with the detective.
Connections to Identity
“My two paths meet at this corner, and it seems like I have to choose one. One street represents a future, the other leads to a different kind of life” (Zoboi 76).
“I wonder if he can see a reflection of my face on that paper—if he can see me, my whole story” (Zoboi 80).
“And I am not a pebble in the valley. I am a mountain.” (Zoboi 214).
These quotes show that Fabiola’s identity changes as she passes through difficulties and learns to interact with people. The girl’s identity is initially shocked as she faces stress and frustration without her mother, which changes to confront the differences between her Haitian and local American cultures.
The heroine claims that she has to make choices in her life, whether to have a promising future or “a different kind of life” (Zoboi 80). Despite this traumatizing and anxious experience, the girl matures by the end of the story, calling herself a mountain, not a pebble. After experiencing difficulties in her life, the young girl gains confidence, claiming that she is not like everybody else but “a mountain” (Zoboi 214). In other words, Fabiola learns to act and be flexible instead of falling into depression and suffering without any changes.
Personal Opinion
“American Street” is full of important social themes, such as immigration difficulties, abuse, the feeling of self-worth, racism, and others, which make it useful to learn about America’s current issues. Fabiola’s strong faith is also what makes the story worth reading. The way she adapts to a new life deserves special attention since the author offers a unique view of how a teenage girl can survive without her parents in an unfamiliar environment full of problems. It was an insight to learn that not only newcomer immigrants but also those who moved many years ago and even second-generation immigrants face dual identity issues.
Works Cited
Zoboi, Ibi. American Street. HarperCollins, 2018.