Diaz’s story continues into second paragraph where Diaz insights the reader that he had to hide who he really is by hiding the government cheese in either the cupboard. This is based off of social class and the stereotype that all African Americans are a part of the lower class. This showed that Diaz was not ashamed of whom he was, but he did not want to get judged. In addition to hiding the cheese, he states that the race of a girl or date should determine where the cheese should be hidden.
The overall theme of the story is how a male, must act very different from what they really are in order to create a more comfortable environment. The story insights the reader on how race and social class have been ignored by the society. “Diaz also analyses what the reader should expect in terms of the girl’s behavior depending on her race or social class”(2013Web.)
Facts of racial stereotypes are further shown by the author’s advice that one should disregard any background or history. For example, Diaz says that “hide the pictures of yourself with an Afro…take down any embarrassing photos of your family,” (Martin143p). Diaz also directed one to hide their ethnicity by saying, “run a hand through your hair like the White boys do even though the only thing that runs easily through your hair is Africa” (Martin145p). Diaz implies that the hiding of one’s identity is the right thing to do. Despite the moral that he has been surround with by his family.
This also illustrates how much influence people have and individuality, posing a challenge to various individuals especially males as the advice given suggests that their actions should be determined by social influences laid by race and social class. . By doing this, Diaz promotes stereotyping practices and offers justifications towards them. Diaz’s advice also makes the reader court a racial and social model other than an individual’s true identity. Advice given to the reader by Diaz is from his personal experiences with certain groups rather than from a personal experience with a single individual thus impacting on the credibility issue.
The reader states that one holds non-objective truths. The writer suggests that girls behaves in a certain way depending on their race or social class. The reader should observe from the reading that the writer is not sure of his conclusions and offers a warning to the reader by saying that his theory failed in front of one of the girls and she acted the total option to what he believed. The girl acts like a person that is unknown to the narrator and someone that does not fit into any of the racial stereotypes that the narrator proposes; she appears like an individual with unique feelings and emotions. In Addition, the affected girl is more than an model, a human being, and this shocks the narrator.
This part serves as a reminder that no race, social class or grouping is perfect or greater to the other. Though the story is subjective, it also questions the mind of the reader in terms of critical thought. Diaz highlights how an person is reduced to just social class and race and by doing so asking a question relating to the authority or accuracy of the decrease of social beings. Though the story is subjective, it also questions the mind of the reader in terms of critical thought. The story fails on the moral side as it gives inferences on physical emotions and sexual relations. An curious reader should consider the ways a person manipulates their appearances within all the contexts that the writer discusses. A reader should also review own beliefs on expectations, stereotypes, biases and social and racial divisions in the determination of behavior.
Diaz’s story is one based on the stereotypes, beliefs and personal experiences that most young people have concerning women in America. The set ideas might show some truth in regarding to the common public behaviors. However, the author uses them to jump to conclusions about girls; The advice also gives the reader advice on how to take advantage of the knowledge needed in order to achieve the ultimate goal (sexual dealings). This advice is portrayed by the author as negative however, at the end of the text Diaz offers an educative tone giving a warning that his advice may not always work.
