What makes me an American, on a superficial level, is my passport or my address: a description of my location within America, be that socially or geographically. But, I maintain that it is the "claiming" a place that finalizes the process of belonging to it, or a nation. By that I mean, as a dual-citizen, I can choose to present myself as Israeli or American, and that choice makes me more American than where I live or any other detail about my life. It is a choice of allegiance, in a way.
Dr. My Haley spoke about what she considered the most difficult scene in Roots, the one we watched in class. The physical brutality is obvious, but it's Kunta's acceptance of the name Tobey that is the most heartbreaking aspect of the beating. It implies a mental and emotional defeat, a loss of home/identity, and showed a glimpse of his future all at once.
My own roots are widespread and not especially deep here in Virginia, although they are the only ones I have ever known.
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