© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
DONATE
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
American Masters

The true story behind "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents"

Season 38 Episode 5 | 2m 05s

Julia Alvarez and her sisters recount the day they had to escape from the Dominican Republic with their parents, because of her father's involvement in a plot to overthrew the dictator, Rafael Trujillo. The experience inspired a scene in her first novel, "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents."

Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo and Patricia Yuen, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Seton J. Melvin, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Anita and Jay Kaufman, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The Charina Endowment Fund, The Marc Haas Foundation and public television viewers.
Extras
Watch • 2:11
American Masters
Marcella
Discover how celebrated cookbook writer Marcella Hazan shaped Italian cuisine in America.
Preview: S39 E6 | 2:11
Watch • 2:00
American Masters
Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny
Discover Hannah Arendt, one of the most fearless political writers of modern times.
Preview: S39 E5 | 2:00
Watch • 3:40
American Masters
How Hannah Arendt developed the concept of "the banality of evil"
Hannah Arendt came up with the concept of “the banality of evil” during the trial of Adolf Eichmann.
Clip: S39 E5 | 3:40
Watch • 2:01
American Masters
Why McCarthyism was familiar to Hannah Arendt
Hannah Arendt was teaching at Berkeley when McCarthyism took hold of the United States.
Clip: S39 E5 | 2:01
Watch • 1:15
American Masters
Hannah Arendt’s reflections on being a refugee
Hannah Arendt became a stateless person in 1933 upon fleeing Germany to France.
Clip: S39 E5 | 1:15
Watch • 2:50
American Masters
What sparked Hannah Arendt's ideas behind "The Origins of Totalitarianism"
Hannah Arendt came up with ideas for “The Origins of Totalitarianism” while observing Hitler.
Clip: S39 E5 | 2:50
Watch • 1:23:45
American Masters
Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny [ASL]
Discover Hannah Arendt, one of the most fearless political writers of modern times. [ASL]
Special: 1:23:45
Watch • 1:35:17
American Masters
Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny [Extended Audio Description]
Discover Hannah Arendt, one of the most fearless political writers of modern times. [EAD]
Special: 1:35:17
Watch • 22:53
American Masters
Phil Rosenthal’s Secret Recipe: Good Food and a Laugh
TV writer and host Phil Rosenthal talks about finding our shared humanity in food and comedy.
Special: 22:53
Watch • 2:30
American Masters
Janis Ian: Breaking Silence
Trace the life and music of “Society’s Child” folk icon and LGBTQ+ advocate Janis Ian.
Preview: S39 E4 | 2:30