This is my grandma’s Bible that she bought in the United States when she first immigrated here. Because she did not speak much English when she arrived and wanted to learn, she purchased this Bible to help her understand the language and to also immerse herself in scripture. She already knew parts of the Bible in Korean, so she cross-referenced the English parts to help her learn faster. My grandma used it to teach herself more about Christianity, but she also used it to teach my mom and my aunts. Because it was an essential part of her story, she passed it down to my mom who passed it down to me. 

This Bible shows how my family persevered through difficult trials to make a life for themselves here in America, and how they also kept parts of their culture while learning parts of a new one. To me, this items shows that being American does not necessarily mean throwing away parts of who you are to fit in. It means to keep those parts preserved, as it is a piece of the bigger scope of the picture of America. My story connects to the broader theme of immigration in U.S. history.

– TH.

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant