What is an American?

An American is a race that is never clear. Someone might say that you’re an American if you were born in the U.S, but that’s not all. Where were your parents from? Your Grandparents? You can’t be originally from America because you had to come from somewhere else. My favorite artist always says, "You had to come from this place to go to that place." This makes you think about where you are in life, and it makes you appreciate yourself. Bringing it back to what’s an American, you might be born from America, but you ancestors from the 19th century made the hard and long journey from England, France, Spain, and all other countries that their people gave up everything that they had just go for the big shot. Some people got lucky and became big land owners, while many more lost their house, family, and lives trying to start something new. Even those few people that made it to what was thought of "paradise", they still had to fight for the rights that people today take for granted. Bloodshed after bloodshed, Americans fought for their unalienable rights that god has given them. After years of battles and arguments, the Americans have begun to be open. Just look at my school. Last year, I had at least 12 students who said their families come from a different part of the world, but they all said they were American. When someone is smart of their actions, caring, determined for what is right, courageous, diverse, open, and proud of where they came from and who they are; that is when they can be called a true American.