Summary Of Tell Me Something By Michelle Cacho-Negrete

Elie Wiesel once said “neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” In Michelle Cacho-Negrete’s Essay “Tell Me Something” she talks about her brother who died in the Vietnam War. In the end of the essay she challenges the reader “tell me something good about my country (739).” What is good about America is that it’s not. Hear me out, because America has been racist, sexist, and homophobic for so long that a new wave of LGBTQIA, feminism, and civil rights has emerged. As a queer, black woman these movements make me feel as though some people care about my struggles. I grew up in a church much like most children in Louisiana. As I became older I began to worry. The church taught that homosexuality is an abomination, and that I would burn in hell forever. Well, I panicked, such as any child who questions their sexuality would. Being the

Not being surprised stemmed from knowing what country I live in. My senior year I worked in a small fifties themed diner. I worked harder than most of my coworkers combined. When our manager left seeking a new job I was given her responsibilities. I closed the drawer every night, I wrote schedules, took inventory, and worked over forty hours each week. Since the owner knew I was leaving, he hired a woman to replace me. She had not been manager yet since I was still in control. I was actively training her to do my job, but she quit before I could leave. It turns out she was making nine dollars an hour while I was only making seven dollars and fifty cents. White privilege was working right in front of me. Was I surprised? Hell no, I was not surprised. I have complete faith that the Black Lives Matter movement is not only going to bring justice to those murdered in cold blood, but make sure injustices like this do not keep