Immigration Book Post #1

Quote #1:

1." 'Yo freak, where you from?' I turned and told him I was from Sudan. 'You know,' the teenager said, tilting his head and sizing me up, 'you're one of those Africans who sold us out.' He went on in this vein for some time, and it became clear he thought I was responsible for the enslaving of his ancestors. Accordingly, he and his friend followed me for a block, talking to my back, again suggesting I go back to Africa" This was said on the end of 18 until the end of the first paragraph on page 19, by a random African American teenage boy and his friend who were telling Valentino this and following him on his way home.

2. The important thing about this quote is that Valentino (the protagonist) can't even turn to people of his own race, that they also will say to leave America. It's sad because it shows just how much hardship Valentino along with many many other African refugees and/or immigrants went through. It also shows something about Valentino's personality in particular. There are many different ways people could react to this. Somebody in Valentino's position could choose to call the cops, yell at the boys, punch them, etc. etc. What Valentino did though, was ignore them to the best of his abilities, and carry on with what he was doing, and this shows he can be peaceful and ignore people like those boys.

3. (Personal Connection) Something along those lines has happened to me before, where a person was being unnecessarily annoying. Just like Valentino, I continued what I was doing and ignored them. Unlike Valentino's experience though, they didn't follow me anywhere (which is a good thing).

4. What do you think Valentino should have done, and why?

Quote #2:

1. " Under the cover of night they are now brazen---they take two trips each to bring all of the apartment's valuables to the car. And now they are standing above me. 'Well, Africa, I hope this has been educational,' Tonya says. 'Thanks for your hospitality, brother,' Powder adds. They are ebullient with the possibility of their clean and imminent getaway." This was said by Tonya and Powder, two partners in crime robbing Valentino. It can be located at the end of page 22.

2. This is when the robbers Tonya and Powder are about to escape, and it's really quite horrible because all of his valuables (most of which were donated by generous people) will be stolen. As if that's not enough, these despicable thieves are being smug about it. It also signifies that this detestable event is almost over, and while Valentino will have to recover from it, at least he is alive and almost out of this situation.

3. (Personal Connection) I once saw a news report where a trio of burglers did something along these lines to a man living alone in his apartment. They tied him up and gagged him, then stole a lot of his things, and that shows that the kind of things like this in this book, can happen in real life (unfortunately).

4. If Tonya and Powder were caught and sent to court, what would you do if you were the deciding judge, to make sure there is justice?