Mericans By Sandra Cisneros: Passage Analysis

Throughout history, many different people of color have experienced racial discrimination and have felt culturally separated from the rest of their peers. The passages "Mericans" by Sandra Cisneros and "Response to Executive Order 9066" by Sandra Cisneros both show first hand experience of racial discrimination and tell a story to the audience to show certain situations in which they had to experience. Both passages use literary devices, such as personal anecdotes, imagery and simple diction to help develop the common theme about cultural differences and racial discrimination.

An important aspect of all writing is diction. Although Okita directly describes herself as a 14-year-old girl, Cisneros' age is inferred by the audience due to the diction in the passage and the lack of complexity in the writing. The words

The diction of "Mexicans" is much more basic than "Response to Executive Order 9066", but both passages explained to the audience that everyone had to experience this discrimination, regardless of age. The use of simple diction in each passage was important in portraying the common theme because if the audience didn't know that the authors were children, the writing itself wouldn't have such a powerful impact on the readers. Although facing racial discrimination is hurtful regardless of age, the overall message of the passages is better expressed when realizing that discrimination happens to children, who have often done nothing to deserve the treatment they receive.

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