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February 13th, 2012
11:36 AM ET
I Am America: University of Texas student Ashley Willies
Ashley Willies lives in Austin, Texas, and she's a proud black, Panamanian-American, "a product of two hardworking, loving parents."
What makes you American? Check out Ashley's story and submit your own "I Am America" story on iReport.
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
Black in America
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Funny I havent heard or read the words VETERAN or NATIVE AMERICAN. To some of us who have given of ourselves for the sake of this country ( I was born here ) is a weak excuse for a freeloader who has given nothing of themself but feels the benefits of our country are a godgiven right rather than something each individual should earn.Any foreigner that comes into our country and works two low paying jobs to make it is a better AMERICAN than anyone that says I WAS BORN HERE.. America was built by hard work by a lot of people that werent BORN HERE. I myself am a veteran and I was BORN HERE. I served next to Cubans Asians and many other people that werent BORN HERE. But they were willing to give of theirselves even their lives to BE HERE!There is more to being an American than being BORN HERE.
More than 90% of Americans are non-veterans and Native Americans, and none need to proof their worth to you or anyone else. I am also a veteran, wounded in combat and decorated. However unlike yourself, I do not believe this places me above any American citizen, even naturalized citizens.
big deal over nothing. Nobody cares that Ashley is an American other than Ashley. We have over 300 million "Americans".
CNN will print anything
I'm American because I was born in this continent called America, otherwise I would be European, Asian, African, etc. However, I do love the EEUU because of the hard work, sacrifice, and vision of its begining and the humanitarian acceptance of the differences among us.
She is a good American alright. Drop me in America and I can make that claim. This is a polarized country and it will always be.
If she's a Panamanian-American does that mean she's a Panamanian first and only uses the American part for benefits?
That's usualy how it works. Ignore the melting pot by distinguishing oneself instead of just calling yourself American. But by using Panamanian first she also gets the affirmative action benefits in addition to the benefits by adding American at the end.
"What makes you American?"
Stupid segment....my birth on American soil makes me a naturalized citizen....duh. What else?
You mean, birth on American soil gives you birthright citizenship. Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth. So if you learned something then "segment" is not stupid after all.