By: Devin Wallace
In an era where immigration shapes headlines and personal journeys, there’s no better time to explore the rich and complex experiences of those living between cultures. Vicky Giouroukakis, editor of the bestselling anthology ‘Growing Up in an Immigrant Household and Community: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants,’ curates a captivating collection of deeply personal stories that unearth the multifaceted nature of identity, family ties, and cultural legacy. In this interview, Giouroukakis shares her vision for what readers will take away from the book, reflects on its timeliness in today’s socio-political landscape, and offers insights into how the immigrant experience continues to evolve across generations. Through these thought-provoking essays, she seeks to ignite empathy, build bridges of understanding, and celebrate the vibrant cultural mosaic at the heart of immigrant communities.
What was it like on a personal and professional level when your book became a bestseller?
I couldn’t believe it! It means that people are interested in reading about the immigrant experience, and so immigrant families should be proud. For someone like myself, who typically writes academic books for teachers, to be able to publish a mainstream book that people enjoy reading, is an honor and a blessing. On a personal note, I feel proud that I was able to recognize my parents and other immigrant families. I am also appreciative of the book’s contributors who took a chance and trusted me to share their personal stories with the world.
When people read this book what do you hope they take away with them?
When people read this anthology, I hope many things–that they develop an understanding and appreciation of other cultures, including their own; that they get to see themselves or their families reflected in the stories and recognize that despite our differences—whether you were raised in an Italian, Greek, Chinese, Jamaican household—we are all the same; that they laugh and cry and feel anger and joy and have an emotional experience. I hope that the stories serve as a bridge that unites our rich cultural worlds.
In the current socio-political climate, where immigration is a heated topic, what do you hope this book contributes to the broader conversation?
This is not meant to be a political book, but the message that I hope resonates with people is that we need to recognize, accept, and celebrate the fact that we are all the same, despite our differences. If we were to sit around and start sharing stories about how we perceived our parents or grandparents growing up, we would probably talk about some of the same things–how hardworking, wise, weird, funny, or strict they were, how they taught us lessons about life, how they reminisce about their own past, what traditions, rituals, values they had, and so on.
How do you think the next generation—children of the contributors—might view their heritage differently from their parents and grandparents, given the evolving American cultural landscape?
Our parents/grandparents had fewer choices. They were defined by the immigrant experience—leaving their country to come to America and work hard to succeed, having to assimilate in varying degrees to the new country, and making sacrifices for their family so their children could have more opportunities than they did. They wanted to maintain their own heritage and for their children to do the same so they could keep the family together. My own parents wanted me to speak Greek, go to church with them, celebrate holidays, and such because they were afraid of losing me if I deviated too much from their culture. The children of the contributors, the second, third, and future generations will become more Americanized, and it will be up to them to maintain the traditions, language, and cultures of their parents and grandparents. They have a choice of what to maintain and what to disregard from their heritage and how they want to shape their own unique culture. With the increase in inter-ethnic marriages, there is a blending of cultures which will only enrich our society.
How did the process of compiling and editing these essays impact your own perspective on immigrant stories, particularly those of second and third-generation individuals?
When I was compiling and editing these essays, I felt I could relate so much to the contributors and their stories. It was as if we spoke the same language and would think so often, “Oh, yeah, I get that.” It was like we were all raised by the same parents/grandparents. To this day, when I read any of the essays, I get emotional and cry; not because they are necessarily sad—although there are sad elements in some—but because they evoke nostalgia, a sentimental longing for the past.
‘Growing Up in an Immigrant Household and Community: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants’ is now available on Amazon! Dive into this compelling collection and explore the rich, diverse experiences of those navigating life between cultures. Don’t miss out!
Published by: Khy Talara
