Answer :
The best thesis statement for the entire essay would be:
"Both Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story show that people can feel tension between their cultural heritage and American identity due to racism and discrimination."
This thesis statement effectively captures the central theme present in both works by Okita and Cisneros. It highlights the commonality of experiencing conflict between cultural heritage and American identity, which is portrayed through the characters' struggles in the face of racism and discrimination.
In Sandra Cisneros's "Mericans," the young American girl of Mexican descent grapples with her identity and sense of belonging, torn between her Mexican roots and American surroundings. The cultural tension she faces is exacerbated by societal pressures and prejudices, reflecting a broader theme of the challenges individuals encounter when navigating multiple cultural identities.
Likewise, in Okita's poem, there is a similar exploration of the complexities surrounding cultural identity and the impact of external factors such as racism and discrimination on an individual's sense of self. By acknowledging these shared themes in both works, the thesis statement provides a strong foundation for analyzing the characters' struggles and the broader social commentary present in the texts.