Author: katcelis

This poem sheds light to understanding self in society. The emotion expressed in “Brown Boy, White Boy” by Jonathan Mendoza shows the crisis of identity he feels in todays world and society. He explains how he must categorize himself and that the biracial boy in him does not know what to do. That being either or must determines his taste in clothes, music and the way he speaks. Part of him feels though he should not have the right to feel this way because he can pass, but the biracial boy in him feels oppressed because thats just another way society tells him how he should feel. I have no right to speak on a struggle I am not part of but why am I not a part of it? He mentions that the white boy is privileged the white boy faces no struggle, the white boy is aware but the white boy cant do anything about it because it is not his war. Biracial boy resents white self and he’s sorry. Sorry he is both oppressor and oppressed.

The message I feel he is trying to get out of this poem is him taking back the identity that was already categorized for him in society. He goes on about not knowing what he can and cannot relate to and if he is really just taking up space because you look white so to the world you don’t struggle and you are protected by the exterior of your skin. Not knowing how to act and wishing his skin came with an “instructions manual.” This poem represents his struggle with being biracial and how he feels a disconnect with both because he expresses not relating to either.

Towards the end he says “wishing he was a purebred and not a mutt” this line shows how it would be easier to just be one but at the end he also goes and states “its the world that made him this way, both oppressor and oppressed, insect and the boot and biracial boy is both of them.” Showing I am biracial I am both and this is who I am. Making this line ultimately take control in him taking back his say, his power, his voice.

5 Questions
1) I feel like what I’m trying to say in my post is worded in a way that would confuse the reader, how can I fix this?
2) I want my introduction to sound better how can I change it?
3) Should I explain more to how he feels or what he’s trying to explain
4) How can I add a better flow to this writing piece
5) I suck at conclusions, how can I improve it without sounding wack haha