Colorism

The all too real issue of racism and its emergence in the Americas. These issues are difficult to read about but this short excerpt on colorism reveals the actual events humans have managed to accomplish since the 1400's. The idea that someone can be viewed as less than because of the color of their skin is a concept so outrageous that it is honestly difficult to believe that people stood by these principles. It's hard to remember that not long ago these rules still applied, and yet somehow are still relevant today. What bothered me most about this text, or the actual events rather, was the role women played in this society as either animalistic and viewed/fantasized of by the "White male". These ideas completely contradicted their other beliefs yet their views were only of what seemed to please them, not what was right or wrong.

Little Snotty

Although this novel did not intrigue me to want to read more, it had it's interesting points, but overall it was quite boring and lacked something. I enjoyed the authenticity of Shteyngarts text, his realistic points of views on certain subject matter. When it came to deep issues such as racism, sexuality, and stereotyping, he got as real as he could get. I appreciated these thoughts and this ignorant mind set because he was representing people as a whole all while sharing his personal life story. Shteyngart got down to the nitty gritty of  how its like being an immigrant, unwanted/neglected, and overall, human. When  his own mother asked him to pay for chicken she had given him, this was not only heartbreaking but it showed the realism in what he has experienced.