July 27th readings

There are obvious similarities in both of these stories. Both girls are forced to conform to white ways, both feel ashamed and heartbroken by how they are treated by others, both are victims of prejudice. However, there are also some differences. In Schooldays the young Indian girl is forced to conform in a more structured way. She is sent to a school where Indian students are made to pray, taught Christianity, stripped of their native clothes and tongue, and physcially forced to cut their hair. In Far's writing she is conforming more because of society and how they look at her. She hears people talk and make racial slurs. She is encouraged to not reveal her nationality and instead claim that she is Japanese. Society is conforming her and making her feel like she is not good enough. However, she does tend to ignore that pressure in many cases. She speaks up when Mr. K is making inappropriate racial slurs. She studies her culture and hopes to go to China one day.
Another difference is that the little Indian girl is desperate for her mother and aunt. She wants them most in her time of despair. With Far, however, the mother encourages them to fight back, to stand up for themselves and who they are. Far doesn't talk of needing her mom's love and approval; it seems she already has that. In Schooldays the young girl wants her mother but then later rejects her wishes by continuing on to college. Her mother wants her back home to live the rest of her life as she has done and doesn't encourage the young girl to finish her education. You don't get that sense from Far's writing. You get the feeling that the mother wants Far to succeed and be happy and proud.
I think some of the differences occur because of the context and social situation that each child is in. In Schooldays she is taken from her isolated Indian home into a completely foreign place. She doesn't even know what a staircase is. She is not familiar with anything having to do with white ways and is totally confused and lost. In Far's writing however it seems she lives in a neighborhood. She is more socialized to American ways especially because her father is American. Also, Far can hide her nationality or change it to favor peoples opinions. The little Indian girl cannot do so.
These two girls come from two very different places yet have very similar experiences. No matter where you are from or where you live racism hurts and can be devastating especially to a young child. These two girls were both hurt and confused about their race, their home, and their culture because of what other people said. People can be cruel and cruelty hurts no matter who you are, what your culture is or the color of your skin.