As the new realities of the global village erode long-standing assumptions about discrete nationhood and fixed cultures, the concept of what it means to be an American is also shifting. Through representative literary works, this course explores the challenges individuals from various ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds confront within a pluralistic society. Students construct a more inclusive definition of culture, assess traditional attitudes about race and ethnicity, and appreciate just how deeply Native, African, Hispanic, Asian, and European Americans have enriched our national identity.