The Succeeders: How Immigrant Youth Are Transforming What It Means to Belong in America (Volume 53) (California Series in Public Anthropology)

**A powerful and challenging look at what “success” and belonging mean in America, through the eyes of Latino high schoolers striving toward community- and care-focused futures.** This book challenges dominant representations of the so-called American Dream, those “patriotic” narratives that focus on personal achievement as the way to become an American. This narrative misaligns with the lived experience of many first- and second-generation Latino immigrant youth who thrive because of the nurture of their loved ones. A story of social reproduction and change, __The Succeeders__ illustrates how ideological struggles over who belongs in this country, who is valuable, and who is an American are worked out by young people through their ordinary acts of striving in school and caring for friends and family. In this eye-opening ethnography of education, Andrea Flores examines the experiences of everyday high school student, some undocumented, some citizen, and some from families with mixed legal status. She tracks how the Succeeders—Latino immigrant-origin youth in a Tennessee college access program—leverage educational success toward national belonging for themselves, their family, friends, and community. Succeeders strive not for personal gain but because they are committed to reinvesting in their communities and expanding their capacity to care for extended families and friends. These young people come to redefine national belonging in the United States by both conforming to and contesting the myth of an American identity rooted in individual betterment. Despite being the focus of xenophobic ire, the Succeeders challenge the boundaries of national inclusion. Their efforts demonstrate that meaningful national belonging can be based in our actions of caring for others. Ultimately, __The Succeeders__ emphasizes the vital role that immigrants play throughout the United States in strengthening the social fabric of society, helping communities everywhere to thrive. A powerful and challenging look at what “success” and belonging mean in America through the eyes of Latino high schoolers.

This book challenges dominant representations of the so-called American Dream, those “patriotic” narratives that focus on personal achievement as the way to become an American. This narrative misaligns with the lived experience of many first- and second-generation Latino immigrant youth who thrive because of the nurture of their loved ones. A story of social reproduction and change, The Succeeders illustrates how ideological struggles over who belongs in this country, who is valuable, and who is an American are worked out by young people through their ordinary acts of striving in school and caring for friends and family.
 
In this eye-opening book, Andrea Flores examines how ideological struggles over who belongs in this country, who is valued, and who is considered to be an American are worked out by young people through ordinary acts of striving in school and caring for friends and family. Through examining the experiences of everyday Latino high school students—some undocumented, some citizens, and some from families with mixed immigration status—Flores traces how these youth, in the college-access program Succeeders, leverage educational success toward national belonging for themselves and their families, friends, and communities. These young people come to redefine what it means to belong in the United States by both conforming to and contesting the myth of the American Dream rooted in individual betterment. Their efforts demonstrate that meaningful national belonging can be based in our actions of caring for others. Ultimately, The Succeeders emphasizes the vital role that immigrants play in strengthening the social fabric of society, helping communities everywhere to thrive.
  A powerful and challenging look at what "success" andbelonging mean in America through the eyes of Latino highschoolers. This book challenges dominant representationsof the so-called American Dream, those "patriotic" narratives thatfocus on personal achievement as the way to become an American.This narrative misaligns with the lived experience of many first-and second-generation Latino immigrant youth who thrive because ofthe nurture of their loved ones. A story of social reproduction andchange, The Succeeders illustrates how ideologicalstruggles over who belongs in this country, who is valuable, andwho is an American are worked out by young people through theirordinary acts of striving in school and caring for friends andfamily. In this eye-opening book, Andrea Flores examines howideological struggles over who belongs in this country, who isvalued, and who is considered to be an American are worked out byyoung people through ordinary acts of striving in school and caringfor friends and family. Through examining the experiences ofeveryday Latino high school students-some undocumented, somecitizens, and some from families with mixed immigrationstatus-Flores traces how these youth, in the college-access programSucceeders, leverage educational success toward national belongingfor themselves and their families, friends, and communities. Theseyoung people come to redefine what it means to belong in the UnitedStates by both conforming to and contesting the myth of theAmerican Dream rooted in individual betterment. Their effortsdemonstrate that meaningful national belonging can be based in ouractions of caring for others. Ultimately, The Succeedersemphasizes the vital role that immigrants play in strengthening thesocial fabric of society, helping communities everywhere to thrive "This book--a story of social reproduction and change--illustrates how the larger ideological struggles over who belongs in this country, who is valuable, and who is an American are worked out by young people through their everyday acts of striving in school and caring for friends and family. It uses the experiences of everyday high schoolers, some undocumented and some from families with mixed legal standing, to understand the roles that education and a broad definition of achievement play in shaping how young people, who are today the focus of xenophobic ire, come to understand their national identity and sense of belonging to the United States"-- Provided by publisher