Interpreting Choy's and Taylor's Short Stories: Issues of Modern Racism and Prejudice

At the time when humans were learning to use spears constructed out of sticks and stones and the site of fire was a revolutionary discovery, racist and prejudice attitudes predominated, functioning as a defence mechanism for the human race. The defence mechanism, which helped protect human tribes from the threat of mysterious, unknown intruders with possible intentions to harm the tribes, now causes harm to people of different ethnicities. Such harm is observed in the history of North America when the Europeans were establishing settlements on the North American continent. Because of European expansion on the North American continent, the first nations already established on the continent were forced to leave their homes by the Europeans, violating the rights and freedoms of the first nations and targeting them with discrimination; furthermore, in the history of the United States of America, dark skinned individuals were used as slaves for manual labour and were stripped of their rights and freedoms by the Americans because of the racist attitudes that were present in America. Although racist and prejudice attitudes have weakened over the decades, they persist in modern societies. To examine a modern perspective of prejudice and racism, Wayson Choy’s “I’m a Banana and Proud of it” and Drew Hayden Taylor’s “Pretty Like a White Boy: The Adventures of a Blue-Eye Ojibway” both address the issues of prejudice and racism; however, the authors extend each others thoughts about the issues because of their different definitions, perspectives, experiences and realities. Choy with his unique style to communicate racism to others, carefully crafts his ideas and thoughts on racism to emphasize his arguments. One aspect of Ch... ... middle of paper ... ...r own unique ways.; however, the authors focus on different aspects of prejudice and racism, resulting in them communicating different ideas and thoughts that range from racial discrimination to stereotypical attitudes. The range of ideas attempt to engage the readers about the reality of their issues. The reality about a world where prejudice and racism still prevail in modern times. But when will prejudice and racism ever cease to exist? And if they were ever to cease from existence, what does that mean about humankind? Works Cited Choy Wayson. ”I’m a Banana and Proud if It.” Reader’s Choice. 3rd Canadian ed. Ed. Kim Flachmann Scarborough: Prentice Hall, 2000. 361-64. Print. Taylor, Drew. “Pretty Like a White Boy: The Adventures of a Blue-Eyed Ojibway.” Reader’s Choice. 6th Canadian ed. Ed. Kim Flachmann. Scarborough: Prentice Hall, 2009. 301-06. Print.