Cause and Effect

Denise Mizelle
Mrs. Hale
Eng. 111
March 7, 2012

Racism comes to light.
Do you remember when you were first discriminated against? “Learning Race” by Hobby-Reicheter and “China Doll” by Alaina Wong are both about girls learning about racism. One gets socially discriminated and the other self discriminates.
In “Learning Race” by Hobby-Reicheter, race first came to light in Mrs. Oakleaf’s (her kindergarten teacher) class she asked “Children would you all stand in front of the easel and paint a picture of you and your family.”(pg.84) Hobby-Reicheter painted her and her mother peach; she painted her father and half brother brown. To Hobby-Reicheter it made sense to color them that. When Mrs. Oakleaf’s came around to see the paintings she stopped at Hobby-Reicheter and informed her that it was wrong. When she asked why, Mrs. Oakleaf said “Talk to your parents about it when you get home.”(pg. 84) When Hobby-Reicheter mother pulled up to pick her up she asked her mom if her dad was light black or dark white?   The mom laughed and told Hobby-Reicheter that her father was not black but white. As years pass she becomes more aware of peoples different color but still really didn’t know what they meant.
Around fourth grade is when racism and bigotry were really learned. It was the day Hobby-Reicheter and Ryan (her best friend) went to Ryan’s grandmothers’ house for dinner. When Hobby-Reicheter and Ryan pulled up they saw a group of kids playing. They wanted to play with the kids. As they approached them, Hobby-Reicheter noticed that the kids were staring, suddenly there smiles turned to frowns, and then they said “Get out of here.”(pg85) ”What you think you’re doing?”(pg. 85)”You don’t belong here, Monkey.”(pg 85) “Nigger lover, get that nigger out of here.”(pg.85) Ryan and Hobby-Reicheter looked for some type of reason for their actions. Then the kids started throwing rocks at Hobby-Reicheter and Ryan. This is when Hobby-Reicheter experienced hatred from racism and... [continues]

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