In the piece Looking for Work by Gary Soto, the author shows us a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in a minority family in the 1950’s. He shares some stories of being poor, yet still was able to find happiness at the dinner table with his family and swimming with friends at the community pool. You’ve got to love the enthusiasm and persistence of this kid. Not once in the story do you feel like he felt sorry for himself. He is not afraid to ask for work. Looking at this story from my perspective as a white American, I am humbled. I have never felt the racism or poverty that he refers to.
I believe the author was trying to get across that as a child he felt at a lower class than the families he would watch on the TV, or some of his neighbors. He mentions that, “This was the summer when I spent the mornings in front of the television that showed the comfortable lives of white kids.” He grew up in a neighborhood where it appears racism was alive as he says “[Mr Jackson] saw me he turned away to wash off his front steps.”
In Soto’s eyes, the white American Family in the 1950’s was perfect, and was the way he wanted his family to be. I think he saw more opportunity being white than Mexican. He wanted to blend in, not make a big statement. He wanted him and his family to be accepted and liked by the whites.
I loved this story. I felt inspired by it. I feel like happiness can be found at any level of life. The last sentence of the book he says, “I felt suddenly alive as I skipped down the block in search of an overgrown flower bed and the dime that end the day right.” Isn’t that great!
Photo of Gary Soto
I read your response to my article and took up the challenge to examine your writing about "Looking for work". After reading what you wrote, its obvious that I should of given this author more of a chance. Your insight was dead on about race. I had never even considered the reverse side of racism where as one class creates a "whitewash" oppionion on another, then desires to emulate it. Your view, insight and response to the article was completely different than mine and in this case for sure, you are correct. Thank you so much for willingness to respectfully challenge my findings. That took courage on your part and I am the one who received the reward. Thank you! Thank you! Keep it up!
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