-I found this quote on the first page to be stand out because it is an example of how geography can play a large role in how you live, or are viewed in society. It reminded me of the reading Amazing Grace, by Kozol because that book was a large discussion on how location can be a struggle in life. This quote is displaying that idea.
2. "We lived among many gringos and only a block from teh biggest, whitest houses."
-When I read this at first, I laughed at the grammar used because gringo, is Spanish slang for a white, English person. I also was confused knowing what gringo meant, if the 'whitest houses' part of the sentence referred to the actual color of the houses, or the people who lived in them. It was just an interesting set up.
3. "It was her public face the mortician had designed with his dubious art."
-The last sentence of this reading was stand out to me because it displays the underlying message that growing up in an English speaking society, not knowing the speech of many as a first language, gives two different personas to people. The person who is comfortable in their own skin, and the person who tried to mold to what society accepts.
I thought the same thing when I read the quote about the white houses. I didn't think anyone else would see it that way.
ReplyDeleteI like the first quote that you used because geography has to do with a large portion of the words cultural problems. It is an ignored aspect of most conflicts and overlooked far too often. If geography was looked at more carefully many problems could have been avoided; conflicts in Iraq for example, or living conditions in areas of the old Soviet Union.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about the two different personas. It really illustrated both the grandmother and Ricardo's/Richard's father - how he was a very reserved (often wrongly characterized as shy) when he spoke English, but when he was around a bunch of Spanish-speaking males he was vibrant and fiery. Confidence in language really affects how you communicate with and are perceived by the people around you.
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