Our nation categorizes each individual as a single race, and by dividing us, people of mixed race are consistently left out. This happens in both Mexican Whiteboy, by Matt de la Peña, and I Am Joaquin, by Rodolfo Gonzales. Both of the main characters, Danny and Joaquin, come from two different cultural backgrounds which makes it very hard from them to fit in and feel comfortable in their own skin. Danny, being both Mexican and white, struggles to fit in with the white kids at his elite high school, and struggles find a place with his Mexican cousins and their community. In a similar manner, Joaquin struggles to find a balance with being half Aztec and half Spanish. He conflicts coming from both sides of the war leading to a heap of different
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Danny’s mom is white and his dad is Mexican. Danny has never had a best friend or felt as if he fits in because of his ethnicity. He opens up his emotions to a girl that like him is half white and half Mexican. Although she cannot speak any English and will likely not understand what he says, he still tells her his deepest emotions in a hope she can relate. He explains, “I come here because I feel like a fake Mexican. And I don’t want to be fake. I wanna be real” (De la Peña 188). The concept that he feels as if he is a “fake Mexican” reveals that even though socially he does not fit in with other Mexicans, he at-heart feels misplaced and feels as though he is an outcast, leaving him to feel displaced and prideless. The statement, “I wanna be real” highlights that he has no pride for his heritage. How can someone that feels “fake” in a racial sense have honor for their race? That is the same question Danny asks himself. He conflicts if he should have honor or guilt for his heritage. Likewise, Joaquin has been going over both the positive and negative of being half Spanish and half Aztec. He has had a rollercoaster of emotions pertaining to his different cultures. He thinks, “I have been the bloody revolution, / The Victor, / The Vanquished. / I have killed and been killed.” (Gonzales 144-147). The words, “Victor” and “Vanquished” identify that Joaquin feels both honor and remorse for his past relatives. He can see both the positive and negative of each side. Coming from both sides has left him nothing, but confusion and perplexing thoughts that lead him in circles. The words, “I have killed and been killed” reveal that the actions of his ancestors he truly feels he is somehow responsible for. His sense of responsibility has left him questioning what lense he should be looking at those relatives though. Pride? Dismay?
Danny’s mom is white and his dad is Mexican. Danny has never had a best friend or felt as if he fits in because of his ethnicity. He opens up his emotions to a girl that like him is half white and half Mexican. Although she cannot speak any English and will likely not understand what he says, he still tells her his deepest emotions in a hope she can relate. He explains, “I come here because I feel like a fake Mexican. And I don’t want to be fake. I wanna be real” (De la Peña 188). The concept that he feels as if he is a “fake Mexican” reveals that even though socially he does not fit in with other Mexicans, he at-heart feels misplaced and feels as though he is an outcast, leaving him to feel displaced and prideless. The statement, “I wanna be real” highlights that he has no pride for his heritage. How can someone that feels “fake” in a racial sense have honor for their race? That is the same question Danny asks himself. He conflicts if he should have honor or guilt for his heritage. Likewise, Joaquin has been going over both the positive and negative of being half Spanish and half Aztec. He has had a rollercoaster of emotions pertaining to his different cultures. He thinks, “I have been the bloody revolution, / The Victor, / The Vanquished. / I have killed and been killed.” (Gonzales 144-147). The words, “Victor” and “Vanquished” identify that Joaquin feels both honor and remorse for his past relatives. He can see both the positive and negative of each side. Coming from both sides has left him nothing, but confusion and perplexing thoughts that lead him in circles. The words, “I have killed and been killed” reveal that the actions of his ancestors he truly feels he is somehow responsible for. His sense of responsibility has left him questioning what lense he should be looking at those relatives though. Pride? Dismay?