American Identity: Myth and Reality

Recent events such as the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, have led many Americans to lament that the nation they grew up with is unrecognizable now. They see threats to national and individual identity and are fiercely engaged in protecting them. In doing so, some of them deliberately blend the distinction between myth and reality. In this timely and relevant book, the author seeks to provide a critical perspective on who we really are.

Taking into consideration the prevailing political, social and cultural conflicts, the author re-examines the changing nature of American identity--primarily its creedal identity, religious identity, cultural identity and linguistic identity--and does so within a broader perspective informed by national and global network of connections.

Based on his lived experience as a naturalized citizen and his learned knowledge as a scholar, he synthesizes the professional, the political and the personal. He draws insights from multiple disciplines in Humanities and Social Sciences, from surveys conducted by agencies like the Pew Research Center, and from the practice of everyday American life.

B. Kumaravadivelu is professor emeritus at San JoséState University, California.