Seminars!
Mexican White Boy
MWB Seminar Pre-Write:
1) At the beginning of the book Danny and Uno begin as completely different people who wear different masks. Uno wears the mask of a tough black gang guy, while Danny wears the mask of a shy Mexican boy who doesn’t talk much. As the story progresses Uno and Danny discover there similar passion and love for baseball, they connect and help each other to take off the masks they wear and reveal themselves to society.
2) The book “Mexican White Boy” is a great way for teens to learn about the racial and economic problems we have in America. The story is told from two different points of view, a half Mexican half white boy, and a half Mexican half black boy. It describes the different ways they have been socialized due to their skin color. For example, although Danny is a very smart kid, he is viewed as a dumb Mexican by the people at his private school. As a result Danny thinks of himself as lesser and is always trying to be like his dad, a Mexican.
3) While reading this book I realized how present racism still is in our modern American society. For example, in this book Uno and Danny are both looked upon as inferior because although they are both only half of a race, they look dark skinned. This book also explains how Danny and Uno feel about being discriminated against and how this shapes the masks they wear and there personalities. Danny has always wanted to be more Mexican like his father. Uno has always believed that because he is dark skinned the only thing he can exceed in is sports. Being white privilege I have been subtly socialized to believe I am superior to darker skinned people, this book has opened my eyes to the way I have been discriminating against people. It has given me the opportunity to try and change my ways.
1) At the beginning of the book Danny and Uno begin as completely different people who wear different masks. Uno wears the mask of a tough black gang guy, while Danny wears the mask of a shy Mexican boy who doesn’t talk much. As the story progresses Uno and Danny discover there similar passion and love for baseball, they connect and help each other to take off the masks they wear and reveal themselves to society.
2) The book “Mexican White Boy” is a great way for teens to learn about the racial and economic problems we have in America. The story is told from two different points of view, a half Mexican half white boy, and a half Mexican half black boy. It describes the different ways they have been socialized due to their skin color. For example, although Danny is a very smart kid, he is viewed as a dumb Mexican by the people at his private school. As a result Danny thinks of himself as lesser and is always trying to be like his dad, a Mexican.
3) While reading this book I realized how present racism still is in our modern American society. For example, in this book Uno and Danny are both looked upon as inferior because although they are both only half of a race, they look dark skinned. This book also explains how Danny and Uno feel about being discriminated against and how this shapes the masks they wear and there personalities. Danny has always wanted to be more Mexican like his father. Uno has always believed that because he is dark skinned the only thing he can exceed in is sports. Being white privilege I have been subtly socialized to believe I am superior to darker skinned people, this book has opened my eyes to the way I have been discriminating against people. It has given me the opportunity to try and change my ways.
MWB Seminar Reflection:
Reaction:
During the seminar what I consider one of the most interesting points made was made by Grant, he said that in a way it seems like Uno might be scared of his dad. I personally never got that impression while reading the book, but looking back on it now I can see how you might think that. While reading I got the feeling Uno was very much in awe of his father and really wanted to be like him. Grant got more of the feeling that the way Uno always bowed his head while around his father and how he rarely ever said anything but yes sir to him made it seem like Uno was afraid of Senior. Grant’s statement helped me to appreciate the way the author wrote the book, he left open ends for people to infer how events made the characters feel. Hearing from other people has widened my perspective.
Connection:
In the seminar we discussed how Danny never feels like he fits in because he is half mexican and half white. He doesn’t fit in with the mexican side of his family because they view him as white and vise versa. While living with his Mexican family Danny ended up not being able to understand a lot of family conversations because he was unable to speak Spanish. The same thing happens to one of my cousins on my mom’s side of the family, the entire family speaks German except for her, at family reunions she can barely understand anything. I think Danny and my cousin must have the same kind of feeling of not belonging.
Self-evaluation:
In this seminar I feel like I did a good job making connections. Throughout the seminar I made connections to outside sources based on what other people in the seminar said. I think I need to work more one connecting directly to the text. I never once quoted the book and in future seminars I think I need to pick out quotes before the seminar so I can reference that in the seminar.
Most Beautiful Line:
“You ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy Uno? It’s when a person thinks of himself in a certain way until it comes true. You ask me, that’s thing as jumpin’ off a bridge, takin’ your own life.”
Reaction:
During the seminar what I consider one of the most interesting points made was made by Grant, he said that in a way it seems like Uno might be scared of his dad. I personally never got that impression while reading the book, but looking back on it now I can see how you might think that. While reading I got the feeling Uno was very much in awe of his father and really wanted to be like him. Grant got more of the feeling that the way Uno always bowed his head while around his father and how he rarely ever said anything but yes sir to him made it seem like Uno was afraid of Senior. Grant’s statement helped me to appreciate the way the author wrote the book, he left open ends for people to infer how events made the characters feel. Hearing from other people has widened my perspective.
Connection:
In the seminar we discussed how Danny never feels like he fits in because he is half mexican and half white. He doesn’t fit in with the mexican side of his family because they view him as white and vise versa. While living with his Mexican family Danny ended up not being able to understand a lot of family conversations because he was unable to speak Spanish. The same thing happens to one of my cousins on my mom’s side of the family, the entire family speaks German except for her, at family reunions she can barely understand anything. I think Danny and my cousin must have the same kind of feeling of not belonging.
Self-evaluation:
In this seminar I feel like I did a good job making connections. Throughout the seminar I made connections to outside sources based on what other people in the seminar said. I think I need to work more one connecting directly to the text. I never once quoted the book and in future seminars I think I need to pick out quotes before the seminar so I can reference that in the seminar.
Most Beautiful Line:
“You ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy Uno? It’s when a person thinks of himself in a certain way until it comes true. You ask me, that’s thing as jumpin’ off a bridge, takin’ your own life.”