Kaffir Boy

In “Kaffir Boy”, division between races is shown in this piece. White and black people are separated as one thinks it is better than the other. They each go to different schools and hang out in different social groups. The author says, “I gazed through the window and for the first time in my life saw white schoolchildren.” (line 2, Mathabane).  Children were not treated equally as they were bullied and not seen on the same level. Families taught their children to hate opposite races and has been passed on from generation to generation. The author says,” At the next bus stop, we got off, and crossed the street when the robot flashed green.” (lines 26-27, Mathabane).  Buses, restaurants, and public restrooms separated blacks and whites.

 In addition, white children were taught not to play with black children as their parents told them not to do it. The author says,” ‘I don’t play with Kaffirs,” the white boy declared. “At school they say we shouldn’t.” “ (line 118, Mathabane). Parents and schools have planted a seed in their children’s head that tells him that they shouldn’t be allowed to socialize with other people that are out of their range. African Americans have had less opportunities as they are put down and get low-income jobs.  

In the 1960’s, African Americans were targets for racial discrimination and hate crimes. Activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. fought for peace among all people and bring America back together. Nonviolent protests didn’t show much progress as people went to violence and hurt many people. Schools were integrated as laws by the Supreme Court were lifted. Today, people still face racial discrimination as they are not treated with respect and involved in attacks. Society still puts ideas in people’s heads that some people are incongruous and should not be treated as well. 

  

"The Stolen Party"- Acts of Racial Discrimination

“The Stolen Party” is about Rosaura’s and her mother’s battle with discrimination. Rosaura is invited to a party but is the one that is running the party behind the scenes. The author says, “Rosaura was the only one allowed into the kitchen.” (lines 38-40, Heker). She is not seen as one of the other children and pointed out as different. Rosaura is seen as lower than the house guests since she is her mother’s daughter and they are of the lower class. The little girl asks her about who her mother is and why she is there while she is not seen as Luciana’s friend. The author says, “ ‘No,” said the girl with the bow, “you are not a friend of Luciana because I’m her cousin and I know all her friends. And I don’t know you.” (lines 47-48, Heker).

Nonetheless, the characters in “The Stolen Party” have put Rosaura in a separate category since she is the employee’s daughter. Senora Ines treats her like a servant since she is seen as poor. The author says,” Instead she rummaged in her purse. In her hand appeared two bills… “Thank you for all your help, my pet.” ‘ (lines 134-136, Heker). Rosaura is judged by the guests for not fitting in and being as rich as they are. Gender roles are also present in the story as a blue bag is for a boy and pink bag is for a girl. Girls such as Rosaura are supposed to be cherry and helpful while boys are supposed to be strong and do dirty jobs such as taking out the trash. The boy in “The Stolen Party” is seen as not manly as he is afraid of the monkey the magician has. The author says, “ ‘You mustn’t be so unmanly, my friend,” the magician said to the fat boy.” (lines 92, Heker).  

In modern society, minorities are seen as lower than most other citizens as they get lower jobs such as coal mining or chicken faming. Racial discrimination has been part of society as people of color are seen as causing trouble and not making something of themselves. In “Danger of a Single Story’, the author is guilty of judging Fide and his family as she thinks that they can’t make anything as they are poor. Stereotypes are a way of seeing people in certain aspects such as thinking all people from the Middle East are terrorists. Americans put people that come from different places from across the world in different categories such as poor, dangerous, or uneducated. African Americans are seen by the police force as the ones who start trouble and are unfriendly when they aren’t as people get to know them. Society needs to learn how to embrace diversity and love one another to build a brighter future.  

Social Pressures on Women

In society, women are seen as taking care of the children and being in charge of the house chores such as cooking and cleaning. The author says, "...this is how you sweep a whole house; this is how you sweep a yard..." (line 18, Kincaid). Women today are seen as fragile and weak and can't make a difference in the world. They are expected to smile and act polite to everyone they meet. The author states,” …this is how you smile to someone you don’t like all…” (lines 19-20, Kincaid). Women are also seen as the ones who take care of their husbands and do their laundry. The author says, “…this is how you iron your father’s khaki shirt so that it doesn’t a crease…” (lines 14, Kincaid).

Men have social pressures such as going to work and making money to support their family. They are seen as strong and smarter than women as they do better on standardized testing. In addition, the job for men back in the 1900’s was working at a factory. The author says,” …after all you are going to be kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread?” (line 36, Kincaid). In today’s society, men and women have more opportunities such as being a lawyer and a doctor and going to college. Women back then didn’t have the opportunity to go to school as they were expected to do house chores and be trained to be the woman of the house.

In modern society, women are fighting for their rights such as the recent March on Washington. They protested Trump’s presidency by going on the streets and holding up signs to show that their voices will not be silenced. The marches took place in major cities like Washington D.C and Los Angeles. Women want to rise up above social standards and voice their opinions. Also, women want to be seen as equal as men by getting equal pay and involved in political decisions. Men suppress women by telling them what they can and cannot do and don’t have a voice on political manners. Women have risen up such as being elected for Congress and educated. Also, they have changed the way people see the world as they get in the armed forces, become doctors, and involved in helping people around the world.