America is in the Heart Chapter 26-27

Chapter 26 Summary The chapter started with Carlos Bulosan talking about changes in their world. Though it entailed some sacrifices and death but he was looking forward to it. This started when his friend Pascual died and Jose was sent to jail. The chapter also talked about their venture in creating a company that was writing literatures for the Filipinos, but unfortunately the company did not last long but they were still trying to revive it even to a point when Carlos’ friends were working long hours and was not eating properly just to sustain the company. Felix Razon also wanted to revive the company by working seven days a week. When Carlos went back to Santa Maria valley he found out that the Filipino Workers’ Association was disintegrating and he and his two friends wanted to create a branch in Central California for the union activities. Carlos also tells us about the difficulties that their association experienced through the years like the burning of their office. The association was not that powerful because they were not united with the Mexican workers’ association, which mean they both have separate demands to their employer which the employers would not acknowledge. Towards the end of the chapter they were trying to set a meeting with the Mexicans but they were told that their permit to hold a meeting was revoked and they held the meeting outside of the city which was raided by the police and eventually captured Carlos and Jose. After they were released from jail they went back to Lompoc to find out that a strike was in progress with the lettuce worker and they decided to meet with the leader Helen in her hotel room.

Table Characters Macario – threshold guardian Pascual - mentor Jose – allies Gazamen - allies Felix Razon - allies Helen - shapeshifter Mr. Magna - herald

Chapter 27 Summary In this chapter Carlos and Jose was working with Helen during the strike, though Carlos has already some suspicion in her he still accepted position in the striker’s organization because he wants to be involved. Helen in the other hand wants to sabotage the delivery of goods of the farms that they are working for even though Carlos thinks that is dangerous because it is guarded by patrols. The following day a local newspaper published that the rally was funded by communist and triggered the anti-rally support by the town which eventually broke the strike. Helen ran away after that which increased the suspicion of Carlos. Carlos then went to Macario to convince him to live with him and to continue his education but Macario was quite hesitant. He then went to Amado and found out that Amado was doing quite well but he was disappointed that Amado was starting to be Americanized and was not willing to help Macario pursue his college studies. When Carlos was attending a seminar regarding labor he saw Helen again. Helen went with him and was convincing Macario about her ways. One day Carlos confronted him and Helen admitted her point of view and said that Filipinos should not be in America in the first place. Carlos hit him and she ran to the streets. Later Carlos heard that she was beaten to death in Visalia.

Table of Characters Macario – allies Amado - trickster Helen - shapeshifter Jose - allies