Examples Of Racism In The Tortilla Curtain
They want what you have, what you have created, and the things important to your culture and upbringing. But they don’t want you or your people, the artists who founded the source of their entertainment. Consequently, modern everyday racism will use and abuse the things made by the minorities, who are the foundation of their hate without even a second thought. Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. This mindset is handed down from generation to generation through teachings like a precious heirloom to the family. In the book The Tortilla Curtain by T.C Boyle there is a character named Jack Jardine who claims to be as accepting and
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In one part of the book he even says “’ and that’s legal immigrants, people with skills, money, education. The one’s coming through the tortilla curtain down there…they’re peasants…all they’ve got to offer is a strong back’” (104). Which shows his disdain for immigrants and further proves he’s an ignorant xenophobic. Ironically, he later introduces Delaney to a sushi bar call Onigaroshi where they drink sake and bask in the traditional Japanese culture. All while he brandishes his conservative ideals about owning a gun and hating immigrants and even convinces, confused Delaney to purchase a gun. “Jack lifts a sliver of maguro to his lips… and then reaches for the glass of sake to wash it down… ‘I’m not talking about your native haves and have-nots, but the torrents of humanity surging in from China and Bangladesh and Colombia with no shoes, no skills’” (352). He is bashing Asian immigrants whilst sitting and enjoying an Asian meal that would not be possible if not for them. Jack is even quite knowledgeable about these other cultures he hates so much. While Jack is showing his disdain for some Spanish graffiti on the wall of their walled community the author writes “Jack had gone right up to the wall and traced the jagged hieroglyphs with his finger.
In one part of the book he even says “’ and that’s legal immigrants, people with skills, money, education. The one’s coming through the tortilla curtain down there…they’re peasants…all they’ve got to offer is a strong back’” (104). Which shows his disdain for immigrants and further proves he’s an ignorant xenophobic. Ironically, he later introduces Delaney to a sushi bar call Onigaroshi where they drink sake and bask in the traditional Japanese culture. All while he brandishes his conservative ideals about owning a gun and hating immigrants and even convinces, confused Delaney to purchase a gun. “Jack lifts a sliver of maguro to his lips… and then reaches for the glass of sake to wash it down… ‘I’m not talking about your native haves and have-nots, but the torrents of humanity surging in from China and Bangladesh and Colombia with no shoes, no skills’” (352). He is bashing Asian immigrants whilst sitting and enjoying an Asian meal that would not be possible if not for them. Jack is even quite knowledgeable about these other cultures he hates so much. While Jack is showing his disdain for some Spanish graffiti on the wall of their walled community the author writes “Jack had gone right up to the wall and traced the jagged hieroglyphs with his finger.