America is in the Heart, is the autobiography of the renowned Filipino author and poet, Carlos Bulosan. The novel is written in four parts, chronicling the life of 'Allos'. The first part of the book begins with Bulosan's rural beginnings. Allos grew up on a farm in the Philippines with his father, they struggled financially throughout his childhood. He feels that he was never allowed to be child because he had to help out on the farm since he turned five years old. Allos' mother and siblings lived in the town of Banalonan, when he visited them he helped his mother sell fruits. Almost all of the family's income went into educating Allos' brother, Macario, who was expected to graduate high school and rescue the family from their dire poverty.
As Bulosan was growing up he witnessed the violent peasant uprisings and protests throughout the Philippines. The constant unrest distresses young Allos and he comes to dislike the middle class peasants. As the rebellions and social unrest mounts, Allos and his brothers decide to immigrate to the USA. When Allos, Macario and Amado get to America they realize the reality of America. America was still reeling from the impact of the Great Depression, which made jobs scarce especially for immigrant workers. Just like the brothers many Filipino's immigrated to America in hopes of finding a new life there. The huge surge of Filipino immigrants angered the whites and a anti-Filipino movement gained traction. The Filipino's in America faced widespread discrimination and hatred, they were rejected from jobs and treated cruelly.
Allos is forced to take whatever jobs he can get. He works in farms along California, receiving poor wages and living in absolute destitution and constantly expecting attacks from the anti-Filipino's. As the situation becomes worse, Allos understands that he cannot live this way forever and participates in a labour movement with the people he works with on the farms. The movement fails because they were not able to organize workers. Allos goes on to join the Filipino worker rights movement and along with his friends forms a committee that obtains work permits and citizenships for Filipino's. Their committee is unsuccessful and they fail to obtain their objectives.
When the Second World War begins to emerge all male American citizens are conscripted with the exception of the Filipino's. Allos' committee decide to join forces again and appeal to the US government. They are successful this time around and the objective of their movement is formally accepted and the President of the United States allows for Filipino immigrants to be enlisted in the army.
Bulosan ends his autobiography by ruminating on his relationship with the country. He concludes that although he struggled to find his place in a country that advertised freedom and liberty but practiced discrimination, he did come to find a place for America in his heart.
