Like Mexicans

The authors mother and Grandmother would really like him to marry a Mexican, but instead he falls in love with a Japanese woman.  The author is concerned that his family will disapprove of his fiancée and he isn't sure if there cultures will mix.  I think family plays a big part in relationships but it all comes down to the couple themselves.  If they can work around the way their family is and be there own person there relationship will probably be good.

I definitely think it would be hard to marry someone of a different culture.  I feel like children wouldn't know what culture they wanna grow up in.  It might be good to experience another culture and be accepted.  Yet at the same time they might feel the same way the authors mother and grandmother did.  They obviously want someone that lives the same way you live, but now a days society changes and it becomes more acceptable to marry someone of another race,religion, or social class. There would be a lot of changing for each other and meeting in the middle, especially if it was another religion.  It would be cool if two people of different types could have a happy marriage. 

First Love

I think our book is full of memoirs because other people can relate to them easily. They are real life events that a lot of people go or went through.  Memoirs are suitable for exploring diversity because different cultures experience different things.  People can relate to memoirs about their same culture, or see differences between one culture and their own.  I think we get fascinated with the way others live.  We might think our life is so horrible but then we see or hear about other people and think what it would be like to walk in their shoes.  Memoirs are a very good way to hear about what other people go through and learn about different people's lives.

Familiar Strangers

I have definitely been stereotyped and have stereotyped others. I get called a dumb blonde a lot; I might not be the street smartest but I am book smart!  Being a young adult I get called naive and immature but all older teens act differently.  There's for sure stereotypes about girls, that they're cry baby's, or suck at sports, or are weak.  People up north call me ghetto for living in a city but they live in the country,it's just a different experience.  People call me trashy and poor for shopping at goodwill, but in all reality I have probably double the clothes because it saves me so much money.  People would never picture me listening to rap or hip hop but that's the music I like, people think I'm a country girl. 

I know I've looked at people and automatically judged them based on what they were wearing, what their hair looked like, or how they talked.  It is a bad thing to do, but a lot of people are judgmental and it just comes naturally to humans.  I think it effects us in a way it shouldn't.  You shouldn't look at someone and automatically think something, especially for as much as people say everyone's the same and equality and all that stuff, no people are different! You can't judge someone before you even know them.

“Roots: Random Thoughts on Random Hair”

I think a "whack color game" fits society even today! Everyone wants to fit in and be the same but frankly we aren't. Some people can't face the facts that everyone is different, but difference can still be accepted.  Race is one of the easiest ways to discriminate someone, it's obvious, unlike someone's lack of knowledge.  America focuses on race many different ways.  I think a good example is like Indian summer, and Irish fest, and all the different heritage festivals that are available for people of that race to attend.  Races are stereotypes, and it's hard to be mixed between two different stereotypes.

What Means Switch

Mona hangs out with the cool kids, talks like them, follows them, she obviously wants to fit in.  She's totally different in school than with her family.  She goes through a lot with her family, school, and the foreign exchange boy.  All those experiences set her up for her future, whether it's saying goodbye, or simply just fitting in.  You can't always make everyone happy, and growing up I know parents will get disappointed in their children, but there comes a time for someone to be there own  person and not just a follower.

Aliens in America

Kaitlin holds a grudge against her father throughout the whole story.  It seemed to originate when she moved out an her mother passed away.  Her father wanted to move on and she didn't like that idea. She doesn't stay in contact with her father and she doesn't talk to him about their issues as a family, instead she holds a grudge and doesn't try to fix it. The authors tone is serious yet sincere at the same time, she has a lot of memories yet doesn't want new ones with a new mother.  I think many kids don't want another person trying to play mom or dad, especially with the author and he sister being so old, they are ready to do their own thing, not start a new family.  I think if you talk about it and move on and give it a try, families can definitely work it out.