In the pantheon of autobiographical literature, a trio of works stands out for their unflinching exploration of racial prejudice in America: Richard Wright’s Black Boy (1945), Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man (1952), and Carlos Bulosan’s America Is in the Heart. While each narrative uniquely chronicles the struggles against racial injustice, Bulosan’s work holds the distinction of being the first significant immigrant novel from the Republic of the Philippines. Its influence stretches across generations of Philippine and Philippine-American writers, leaving an indelible mark on Asian and Asian-American literature as a whole.

Bulosan’s narrative weaves a poignant tapestry of dreams of freedom and democracy crushed under the weight of deprivation and persecution. His writings consistently explore themes of class struggle, national solidarity, and personal alienation in an America that, to him, embodies "dehumanizing pressures." Through his journey, Bulosan depicts the evolution of a new heroism within himself, born from the loss of innocence and the harsh realities of his adopted land.

An intriguing aspect of Bulosan’s work is his comparison to the classic figure of Robinson Crusoe. Both Bulosan and Crusoe are portrayed as idealists embarking on a quest, only to find themselves marooned in unfamiliar territories where survival relies on intellect and adaptability. This analogy is vividly illustrated through Bulosan’s numerous references to a soul adrift, shipwrecked, and moorless. Despite these adversities, his resolve remains unshaken, driven by a messianic idealism that extends beyond personal survival to encompass a broader mission of aiding others in their struggles.

While laboring in the fields, Bulosan feels a profound connection to his peasant roots, reaffirming his bond with the land and rediscovering his identity through the shared lives of fellow workers. This kinship with his heritage becomes a source of strength, enabling him to navigate the complexities of a society fraught with challenges yet ripe with opportunities for resistance and solidarity.