Joe Amato: His Story

When I first started reading Family Values by Joe Amato I didn’t know what to think. I thought it was going to probably be boring and hard to get through. I expected it to be like every other story I’ve read about a struggling family who just moved to America. Joe Amato’s story was slight different, there was something about it that made it relatable and original. Even though I wasn’t able to relate directly, he wrote in a descriptive way that made it easy to understand what he was going through.

As an immigrant from Italy, there were many obstacles that as a family had to be faced and conquered. As I read his story I never would have guessed that he obtained a four year degree and was now a teacher and a writer. He was able to read, write, and speak English, all of which are challenges in themselves for an immigrant.

There is a part of his selection where he describes the way his grandpa speaks as “broken” English. He also stated that even though his English is “broken” that he is still proud to be a naturalized United States citizen. Even though his English may not be perfect, in my opinion he knew more about the United States than most others. When asked “How many congressman are in the House of Representatives?” or “How many senators are in the Senate?” he knew the answers.

Everyone who immigrates into a new country, or is directly affected by immigration through family members and relatives has a new way of adjusting and excelling. For Joe Amato it was reading, writing, speaking, getting a good education, and a career that would support his family. I have a lot of respect for Amato because he could have given up, but he knew what he had to do for himself and his family. He didn’t waste any time, he knew what he had to do and he got it done. He was the only one in his family to get a degree and he has come so far.