Why The Caged Bird Sings

The first one is an article from Newsweek published on September the 10th 2001, and written by Alan Zarembo. It’s entitled “Why the caged bird sings” This document deals with a 35 year olds Mexican woman named Ana, she is an illegal immigrant in the US. She used to live in Puebla with her daughter Angel and her son Misa. She is divorced. It represent a young woman in a street of a cosmopolitan city who can stand for Ana in New York. Going to the US ana became an American self made woman.

Indeed , six years ago, Ana came to the USA by crawling in a drainpipe, walking across the desert and hiding in a car to avoid being caught. It was risky for her life because she was illegal and undocumented and thus she could be arrested.

At first she didn’t intend to stay long because she wanted to pay back her sister,she wanted to earn money to pay her debts and she wanted to get rid of her husband.

Little by little she climbed up the social ladder. To begin with, Ana was a laundry woman. Although her income was only 200% a week, she had a better paid job than in Mexico.

Next she became a maid.

Eventually she made a living by being a broker. Her story is a “rags to riches” story since she started with a low-paid job and is now fortunate even if she’s still an illegal immigrant.

She helps her family financially by sending cash, paying the bills and sending gifts .she is the breadwinner.

Unlike the neighbours who live in poverty, her family has good living conditions. Therefore they feel jealous, envious, they can’t stand their conspicuous consumption.

Despite their money, Misa and Angel don’t have any friend.

According to Ana’s mother, money is both a blessing and a burden because the more money they have, the more rejected they are by the neighbours.

As a conclusion the text illustrates the fact that the American dream is still alive you can make it in the US, you can climbs the social ladder but you must make sacrifices.

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