The story “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie” was written by Junot Diaz, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and centers on a young teenager who gives instructions on preparing for a date with a "Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl or Halfie". The narrator in the story addresses the reader with casual "how to" language and teaches him how to date girls of a different race. Junot Diaz intends the story to be witty by mentioning stereotypes of the three races and making a confident but subtle statement about racism in America in "How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie." Say no to plagiarism. . Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The main character of the story is assumed to be a young teenager who lives in an urban area and tries to win the heart of a white or half-white girl. However, due to his upbringing and culture, he knows that he has to hide his identity to please a white girl or a pimp. In the story it is seen that the main character belongs to a lower class. First, he hides “government cheese,” which indicates that his family is on welfare. The girl's social class will determine how well the cheese must be hidden. In the third paragraph the author mentions the “Terrace” where the character lives. The “terrace” is represented as the part of the city where the minority group lives, mainly due to social, legal or economic pressure. We can also tell through the discourse of the story that the main character is of lower education and social class by his slang that he uses with his friends. “Are you still waiting for that bitch? Say, hell yes”; this type of speech takes away the credibility of what he says, because we know that he is not the brightest or most elegant guy. The narrator then says, “Call her at home and when her father answers ask her if he is there. He will ask: who is this? Learn. He looks like a principal or a police chief” in low-income neighborhoods, people come to disrespect or fear authority. As the story progresses, the narrator's words and mannerisms change depending on the different race of the girl. These observations determine his verbal communication and physical approach towards them. “Dinner will be tense. You're not good at talking to people you don't know” shows the awkwardness between different peoples; in this case, it's not just a boy and a girl, but a “Dominican” and a “halfie”. The narrator begins to mention the importance of “Movement” to the girl, as well as her parents, saying “It will seem like something her parents made her memorize.” “The Movement” refers to the Civil Rights Movement, whose goal was to end racial segregation in the United States. The narrator then states "your brother's" response to that story: "Man, that sounds like a lot of Uncle Tomming to me," and it's implied that the Uncle Tom reference was taken offensively by the girl when the narrator says "Don don't say it again” in response to the “halfie” story. The implication that the “halfie” was upset by the comment alludes to the sensitive topic of race and racial equality genre also indicates a certain racial insensitivity among Americans, which shows that people are starting to treat these topics as something for the history books. The narrator suggests instead “saying: it must have been hard,” because “he will appreciate yours interest. She will tell you more.” The idea that racial inequality issomething ancient is supported when the girl begins her story with “So”, showing that she also considers it an old thing. The idea that racial stereotypes are no longer a modern problem is proven patently false throughout the story with comments such as “the white ones are the ones you want” (403). Even the title implies significant differences in ethnicities and how people look at each other. When the girl states that "black people... treat me really bad," the narrator once again addresses the topic of racism as a very real problem for many Americans - something that comes from all peoples and generates only negative emotions . “This is why I don't like them” is an example of these feelings. These blanket statements like "black people" and "I don't like them" lump everyone of a single ethnicity into one body and show one person's feelings towards an entire people based on the actions of a few. Finally, the narrator says "You'll wonder how he feels about Dominicana." This is another example of the negative feelings that arise when the topic of racism is raised. Diaz does not frame her analysis solely on the ways in which a girl's race and class should determine her date's behavior. It also determines the girl's behavior, or at least what the reader should expect from the girl. Diaz adds flavor to his instructions with advice on what to expect. For example, Diaz's account mentions several comparisons between white girls, black girls, and Hispanic girls. Compare girls sexually and physically. He begins his statement with the phrase “You mean business.” This is a satirical aspect of the piece because it refers to the boy making "a move" on the girl. Mention what a “local girl” can do in this situation compared to a “white girl”. This comparison informs the reader how the speaker interprets these different cultures and what he believes each race would prefer or do when it comes to sex. Diaz concludes that "A local girl may have hips and a big ass but she won't be ready to let you touch her... or she may, if she's reckless, give up, but that's rare." In contrast, “A white girl might just give up at that moment.” The reader is given insight into the speaker's opinion regarding the racial portrayal of girls. Diaz emphasizes not only stereotypes, but also the extent to which a person's upbringing and race can determine their behavior. In doing so, Diaz highlights the ways in which the social forces of race and class undermine both individuality and objectivity. If our actions are determined by our race and class, where is there room for individuality? If our response to others is determined by race and class, are we courting an individual or a racial/social archetype? To treat another human being as a racial or social archetype rather than as an individual is to trade in stereotypes. The narrator's advice depends on his subjective experience of race and class, rather than on his consideration of each human being as an individual, with unique responses and desires. He plays to present the reader with unbiased truths, but if a reader looks beyond the authoritative tone, he or she can see that this advice undoubtedly depends on the narrator's personal experience of these racial and social groups. This observation is further highlighted by Diaz's inclusion of a moment in which the narrator's advice falters and breaks when faced with a girl whose actions reach beyond the realm of stereotype and into that of individuality: “She'll cross her arms , she will say, I hate my boobs. Stroke her hair but she will move away. I don't like anyone touching my hair, she'll say. He will behave like someone who doesn't.