Throughout these first few months of school, our Humanities class has been reading a book entitled “Mexican White Boy”. The reading of this book tied along with our Identity Project, as it related to a protagonist who was struggling with finding out who he was, and what masks he wore. Danny, our protagonist, moves in with his cousin, Sofie, in a new neighborhood in which is filled primarily with Mexicans. I feel that the mask he wears is primarily the fact that he is a mexican white boy. Half mexican, half caucasian, and because of this he feels that he doesn't fit in anywhere. That he may even be ‘neither here, nor there’. So the way he can hide himself is by coming across as a non-social person; shy and non talkative. Uno, another protagonist, feels that to prove his manliness he needs to come across as this macho man type of character. Whether its getting into fights, or talking as if he is a ‘god’ of sorts, he feels that he needs to show the world, and his father, that he is a true man.
When looking at how our different cultures are socialized, we all follow the same motto. “Men need to be strong, and brave, and tough.” So when analyzing this book, we know that this motto has shaped Uno and somewhat Danny’s identity. Uno, I think, try’s to show his manliness more than Danny, just given his personality, yet Danny tries to show his masculinity when talking with his birth father. He wants to come across to his father as a tough, brave, ladies man. Yet when he is out with his friends, or even with his family, he feels that he needs to stay quiet because he feels unwanted or unwelcome.
When looking back at this book, and really this whole project, I have definitely learned some key lessons. Because I have been sheltered most of my life, and have not been exposed to this lower class, more poverty stricken world, it has been hard to immerse myself in these different cultures and lower class establishments. Reading this book was not only able to give me an insight as to what it is like to live in one of these communities, but has also opened my eyes to show just how lucky I am. Being born and raised in upper middle socioeconomic classes, I have never really thought of how easy I have had it. When I have to be worrying about grades, other kids in lower class establishments are worrying about just getting an education or being able to get a meal on the table. Overall, I’ve learned how lucky I am to live the way I do, and I can’t take that for granted.
When looking at how our different cultures are socialized, we all follow the same motto. “Men need to be strong, and brave, and tough.” So when analyzing this book, we know that this motto has shaped Uno and somewhat Danny’s identity. Uno, I think, try’s to show his manliness more than Danny, just given his personality, yet Danny tries to show his masculinity when talking with his birth father. He wants to come across to his father as a tough, brave, ladies man. Yet when he is out with his friends, or even with his family, he feels that he needs to stay quiet because he feels unwanted or unwelcome.
When looking back at this book, and really this whole project, I have definitely learned some key lessons. Because I have been sheltered most of my life, and have not been exposed to this lower class, more poverty stricken world, it has been hard to immerse myself in these different cultures and lower class establishments. Reading this book was not only able to give me an insight as to what it is like to live in one of these communities, but has also opened my eyes to show just how lucky I am. Being born and raised in upper middle socioeconomic classes, I have never really thought of how easy I have had it. When I have to be worrying about grades, other kids in lower class establishments are worrying about just getting an education or being able to get a meal on the table. Overall, I’ve learned how lucky I am to live the way I do, and I can’t take that for granted.
When looking back at this seminar, there are several things I feel I did well, and several things that I feel could use improvement. Throughout the seminar, several comments were made that really drew my attention. When discussing what masks Danny and Uno had to wear, Izzy brought up an interesting point in which she stated that “The masculinity of both Danny and Uno showed throughout the book, and although they weren’t very masculine on the inside, they felt that they needed to portray this to the world to prove to everyone that they were men.” I completely agree with this statement, as I ended up saying something similar myself. This statement didn’t necessarily make me question anything, yet it did introduce some more interesting ideas from those who didn’t necessarily speak very much during the seminar.
Uno, who comes across as this tough masculine macho man, feels a certain pressure about having to portray that he is actually quite soft on the inside. I feel that at times I can relate to that, what with feeling as if I need to prove my masculinity to the world. Especially when playing football, you are expected to not be soft or not show emotion, and it is fairly easy for me to do that, but it shows this stereotypical socialization that us men have developed.
Looking back at the seminar, as I said before there are definitely areas in which improvement is necessary and areas where I am on my a-game. I feel that not dominating a socratic seminar is a big issue that I have to face. I am a very extraverted person, and extremely social, and so I feel the need to say what I need to say when I need to say it, and at times that comes out as dominating a discussion, conversation, or in this case, a seminar. Overall, I feel that I am able to contribute a good deal of material and information in a seminar, and I am able to be somewhat of a group leader, and steer those who are off track in the right direction. Not only this, but am a very good public speaker and I tend not to struggle when speaking in front of many people, so that makes getting my point across much easier.
This book was full of many amazing quotes, yet there was one that popped out to me the most. This quote wasn’t actually in the book, yet the author said that this quote was what inspired him to write it. “Accept what you cannot change, change what you cannot accept.” I feel that throughout this book, Danny feels that he needs to change this that cannot be undone (ie: His relationship with his father), and yet he doesn't realize till near the end of the book that what cannot be changed is what makes him a unique individual.
Uno, who comes across as this tough masculine macho man, feels a certain pressure about having to portray that he is actually quite soft on the inside. I feel that at times I can relate to that, what with feeling as if I need to prove my masculinity to the world. Especially when playing football, you are expected to not be soft or not show emotion, and it is fairly easy for me to do that, but it shows this stereotypical socialization that us men have developed.
Looking back at the seminar, as I said before there are definitely areas in which improvement is necessary and areas where I am on my a-game. I feel that not dominating a socratic seminar is a big issue that I have to face. I am a very extraverted person, and extremely social, and so I feel the need to say what I need to say when I need to say it, and at times that comes out as dominating a discussion, conversation, or in this case, a seminar. Overall, I feel that I am able to contribute a good deal of material and information in a seminar, and I am able to be somewhat of a group leader, and steer those who are off track in the right direction. Not only this, but am a very good public speaker and I tend not to struggle when speaking in front of many people, so that makes getting my point across much easier.
This book was full of many amazing quotes, yet there was one that popped out to me the most. This quote wasn’t actually in the book, yet the author said that this quote was what inspired him to write it. “Accept what you cannot change, change what you cannot accept.” I feel that throughout this book, Danny feels that he needs to change this that cannot be undone (ie: His relationship with his father), and yet he doesn't realize till near the end of the book that what cannot be changed is what makes him a unique individual.