American Cultural Mosaic: Communities of Otherness

While many ethnic Americans live in certain parts of the country where they are often the only minority, the opposite is also true in America, typically in more urban areas. There are often enough numbers of a race or nationality reside that they form a kind of closed community. Examples could be a Chinatown in San Francisco or a Little Italy in New York City or an African-American neighborhood in the South or a Latino barrio in Texas. In such a setting, often the protagonist does not even know he is The Other, and can lead to either the discover of his Otherness or an issue-related story that does not focus solely on multiculturalism.

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers is about the life of 12 year old African-American Jamal, who is trying to do the right thing but who gets into trouble when he joins and tries to lead Scorpions, an inner city gang.

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson tells the story of 16 year-old African-American single father who struggles to juggle school, friends and take care of his newborn baby girl all on his own. The narrative moves back and forth between the "now" of fatherhood and the "then" when Bobby and his girlfriend relate during her pregancy.

Tyrell by Coe Booth is about a 15 year old African American boy whose family lives in a homeless shelter in the Bronx after his father was sent to jail. Forced to drop out of school to take care of his little brother and support his mother, Tyrell is torn between keeping his girlfriend and figuring out the best way to get his family out of poverty.

The Tequilla Worm by Viola Canales follows 14 year old Mexican-American Sofia as she leaves her family and her small town Texas barrio neighborhood to attend an elite, mostly white boarding school, where she received a scholarhip. In the alien environment of the boarding school, Sofia discovers her true self.

Sharon Flake's first novel The Skin I'm In shows the self-discovery journey of 12 year old Maleeka, who is teased at school for her dark skin and homesewn clothes.

Apparently skin color is a huge indication of beauty among many African-Americans. The lighter one's skin tone, the better. The same can be said for Indians from Asia as well as many other Asian cultures. While perhaps some Asian cultures especially might few fairer skin as beautiful because long ago it meant one was a person of wealth and didn't have to labor hard in the sun, there might also be a racist component. That is, to be more fair brings one closer to becoming white, the majority race of America.

Also, often the clash in cultures is greatest when one's parents are the immigrants, and the protagonist is the first generation born in America. By the third assimilated generation, the knowledge of non-American languages and customs usually disappear, though food may be retained. But unlike children and grandchildren of European immigrants, all other descendants of ethnic immigrants must deal with looking like "The Other," whether the children be 100% ethnic, half ethnic and half white, or somewhere in between. With perhaps the exception of African-Americans, most overcoming a community history of slavery and segregation, an ethnic American could be a fifth generation American and still be approached by mainstream white Americans with the question, "Where are you from?"