Junot Diaz’s “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie” uses second person point of view to tell us the story. This point of view gives us limited views about what is happening throughout the story. I think that this point of view makes this short story more interesting and have us wondering about what the character, Yunior, is thinking or what his next moves are. However if Diaz had used the first person point of view we would have a better understanding of the character’s identity and understand what his thoughts are. We would also be able to understand why he is doing the things that are happening in the story. In the story, Diaz implies that prejudices and stereotypes convey a problem in today’s society. Stereotypes can mislead one’s understanding of another person. The story is about a person’s background, economic class and race. Diaz shows us how someone identity can be affected and how they may act different towards other people, he also shows us how a person can change based on their economic class, race and background. Society and stereotyping made Yunior acted differently every time he is with someone of a different race, culture or background.
If the story was written in the first person point of view we would understand what Yunior’s emotions are and what he was thinking throughout the story. The narrator tells us “Put the basket with all that crapped-on- toilet paper under the sink”. Anyone coming from a Hispanic background will know what the author is referring to. However other people reading the story might wonder what is Diaz trying to say. Many people might not have experience this or knows what that phrase means. If this was written in first person point of view Yunior would have told us what this mean in his own words. We would have been able to know that he is of Dominican decent and this was normal for him. We can assume that he is ashamed about his family’s culture and they way they live. However being that this is written in second point of view we know very little as to why he is ashamed of this. We can assume that Yunior is ashamed and doesn’t want to be judged by the different types of girls whom he has stereotypes for and he believes that each girl will act differently to his family situation. Diaz uses the government cheese as a metaphor to symbolize welfare and poverty. “Clear the government cheese from the refrigerator. If the girl’s from the Terrace stack the boxes behind the milk. If she’s from Park or Society Hill hide the cheese in the cabinet about the oven, way up where she’ll never see.” We can assume that Yunior does these things in fear of being tormented and judged by the different girls that come over. If this was in first person point of view, we would know why Yunior has so much insecurity about his appearance, economic class and background. We can only infer that the rich girls or middle class girls will never see the cheese because they would never want to date him knowing that is family is poor and on welfare. We can imagine that this is just his assumption and stereotypes about the girls who came over. The rich girls will look down upon him if they see the government cheese that is why he puts the cheese in the cabinet. The girls from the Terrace won’t pass judgment if they see the cheese because their families are in the same situation, but he still puts the cheese in the back because he ashamed of his social position. Yunior stereotypes the girls based on their social position because he think that they will judge him.
Diaz suggests that stereotypes are destroying our society. There is something more meaningful behind each individual smile like their values, character, and personality. Society tends to make unjust assumptions and conclusions about someone because of their appearances or race. This should not stop someone from connecting and starting a healthy relationship with another person. If the story was in first person point of view we would know why Yunior formulates an action plan for each girl. We can assume that Yunior has one resolution and that is getting intimate with the girls. We can infer that Yunior is afraid to be himself in fear that the girls will not like him. He feels that if he presents himself in a more “normal” way he will increase his chances with the girls. Being that the story was told in second person point of view we do not know what was going through his mind when he was making these plans about the girls. Having Yunior tell us this in his own words would allow us to know the exact reason for his insecurities and why he is trying to be someone he is not. Yunior is trying to hide the actual person he is by concealing his background. “Take down any embarrassing photos of your family in the campo, especially the one with the half naked kids dragging a goat on a rope leash.” Here Diaz tells us that Yunior is clearly not comfortable with himself and his family background and he is trying to hide something. “Hide the picture of yourself with an Afro.” Diaz is showing us the Yunior is ashamed of his roots. We can conclude that Yunior is afraid that the girls will pass judgment because of his Afro; he wants to hide the fact that he is black. Diaz implies that one should not be embarrassed because of their skin color, race, or economic status. Yunior should have been proud of his culture and not hide from it.
Diaz shows us that stereotypes can give others the wrong perception of individual and it can also influence one’s behavior towards that person. We are left to assume Yunior’s actions and character. The story would have been better understood if it was first person point of view. We would have known what Yunior’s exact thoughts and emotions were throughout the entire story is his own words.
