Individuality is responsible for shaping people and creating communities that are based on different ways of thinking. These communities consist of diverse cultures, traditions, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Culture serves as a unifier among individuals as well as a factor that separates them into various ethnic neighborhoods. Despite the uniqueness of each community, some similarities can be found across different areas. Every community encounters challenges such as stereotyping and bigotry. Developing an understanding and appreciation for cultural differences will equip people to live harmoniously in a universal neighborhood.
In the essay “Superman and Me,” Sherman Alexie discusses how his father’s love of reading influenced his own dedication to books. He mentions that his father enjoyed reading a variety of genres, including westerns, spy thrillers, and biographies. This tradition instilled in him a passion for reading from a young age.
In contrast, the students in the novel “Bodega Dreams” have a unique advantage due to their cultural background. They are able to speak two languages, which their science teacher, Jose Tapia, encourages them to embrace. Tapia believes that this bilingualism makes them more valuable in society, as it increases their job opportunities.
In her book Ranch Girl, Maile Meloy provides insight into cultural traditions. As adolescents reach a certain age, they begin to socialize, seeking out unique places to mingle and perhaps engage in rowdy behavior. Young women put effort into their appearance in hopes of attracting attention from someone special, while young men try to impress specific young ladies. Teenagers in both urban and rural communities share this desire for social connection, whether it’s at the beach, a serene hilltop overlooking the city, or simply relaxing at a friend’s house. In the story Superman and Me, Alexei recounts how Indian children were unfairly expected to fail. Indians were often stereotyped as dangerous drunks unable to read or write. However, Alexie refused to accept this label and declared his intelligence, arrogance, and determination to succeed. He sought refuge in books, reading late into the night despite exhaustion. His goal was to save himself from a life marred by poverty, fear, and fitting into that stereotype. The novel Bodega Dreams also explores stereotypes, this time between the White and Latino communities. Mr. Blessington was esteemed in society for his breeding, values, and respectability. However, his true colors as a racist became evident when he made derogatory remarks to his students while teaching English at Julia de Burgos Junior High.Mr. Blessingtion, through verbal abuse, warns students that “boys would end up in jail and girls would turn to prostitution” (167Quinonez). This misuse of his teaching role leads to repeated negative reinforcement and eventually results in a student assaulting him.
The stories Ranch Girl, Superman and Me, and Bodega Dreams all explore the impact that communities have on individuals. In Ranch Girl, the author Meloy finds comfort and security in never leaving her town, focusing on her daily life and responsibilities. Similarly, in Superman and Me, the author Alexie faces adversity as an intelligent Native American but ultimately returns to his community as a teacher to help others. Tapia in Bodega Dreams feels a responsibility to his students of the same ethnicity, emphasizing the value and importance of their culture. Each story highlights the unique characteristics and traditions that shape neighborhoods, such as the love of reading, language fluency, and socializing among teenagers. It is through these experiences that individuals learn to respect others, embrace their own ideas, and take responsibility for their actions as they transition into adulthood.Neighborhoods face stereotypes and bigotry, as depicted in both Bodega Dreams and Superman and Me. Citizens often endure labels of being unintelligent, dangerous, and lazy, without any expectations of success. Consequently, they must either fight for themselves or rely on someone to advocate for them. It is essential for communities to educate themselves about diverse cultures and traditions. Individuals must also learn the proper approach to interacting with individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, exhibiting respect, patience, and kindness.
Works Cited
The source of “Ranch Girl” is an article by Meloy, M. It can be found in the book “Reading Literature and Writing Argument,” edited by James, M. and Merickel, A. in 2002, on pages 162-166.
Quinonez, E. n.d. Bodega Dreams. In: James, M. and Merickel, A. eds. 2002. Reading and Writing Argument. 4th ed. Pearson, pp. 167-172.
The text “Superman and Me” by S. Alexie can be found in the book “Reading and Literature and Writing Argument” edited by M. James and A. Merickel in 2002. The 4th edition of this book was published by Pearson and the specific pages where the text is located are 208-210.
