“We are to blame for this destruction, we who don’t speak your tongue and don’t know how to keep quiet either. We who didn’t come by boat...”
The statement is a retort to the racist policeman who discriminates against Makina and her fellow migrants. It highlights how migrants in modern society are perceived as destructive yet they are trying to achieve a better life like everybody else. In that, they are not appreciated as contributing members of the nation despite their efforts in jobs that are essential to the economy. Makina aims to express that America is made up of immigrants throughout history and the whole essence of the nation is to achieve the ‘dream’. Thus, they do not deserve to be treated with prejudice since they are attempting to do what everyone else is doing.
“Every week the Anglos play a game to celebrate who they are. He stopped, raised his cane and fanned the air. One of them whacks it, then sets off like it was a trip around the world.”
In the assertion, he attempts to explain the game of baseball to Makina as an individual who is not aware of the specifics of the game. Basically, it highlights an example of the cultural differences that migrants such as Makina face when they move to America. The differences spread across all social spheres and baseball is the most American game; it is used as a representation of what is American. The narrative highlights the conflict that arises when reconciling both cultures into one identity for the Mexican immigrants.
“They might be talking in perfect Latin tongue and without warning begin to talk in perfect anglo tongue and keep it up like that…”
The statement further accentuates the juggling of two cultures and languages to strike a balance in this unfamiliar territory. For Makina however, she speaks three languages including her native and the English language thus manages to seamlessly juggle them. However, she stresses the need to balance them rather than fully assimilate like her brother as an example. In that, he has chosen to lose his native identity for a fully assimilated identity with a new name and way of life.
