Short story written by Martin Espada Essay

Niggerlips is a short story written by Martin Espada and is located in the bilingual book of poems called Cool Salsa edited by Lori M. Carlson on pages 73-74. My interpretation of the historical implications in the writing is when he nones the capital grandfathers time and place of existence, Coffee Hills in Puerto Rico 1900s. The writing as well includes a section describing how a young villain student, Douglas, who attended elementary school with the grandson, would frighten young downhearted children playing on the sidewalk with an discharge gun in their communities. This to me indicates a time in history where racism and violence were not considered radical acts as most would in todays modern society, but thats not to say that it still doesnt happen today especially in southern states like Arizona or Arkansas for example. In this era, sinister behavior like Douglass was somewhat acceptable in a esthesis from the 1960s and prior for many age and included harsher treatments. For example, during the civil rights movement in the 1960s, police were treating minority groups with fierce aggression that included unjust assault on men, women, and children. I also picked up the sense that the great grandfather, Luis, was more of a burden to his family rather than a beloved member. It were as if the family was deprive or hiding him from the family legacy for having black p are down and assuming curly hair which are dominant traits in the Puerto Ri skunk nationality. The conflicts imply a historic era engulfed by prejudice that defines entire races to be humble to others and often made scapegoats for others as well. They also represent a time when hate and violence were accepted in communities as a status quo for reasons that are beyond petty such as how they look, their income, gender, sexual preference, and religion. These types of traits are not optional to the human being, but rather a forced stamp on an envelope that cannot be undone in a natural manner. This literature is a drama and I say this because it tells the story of heritage and shame which is not depicted in any form of humor by the condition.It tells about one of the many acts of violence in a clear and precise pace and its causation, racism. The violence was targeted by innocent children who could not change their economics, education, politics, or genetics to avoid being a victim of such cruel punishment by Douglas and others like him. The author uses metaphors and interesting words to creatively describe the events that occurred. For example, the text reads a line that includes the phrase, stubborn copper skin (Cool Salsa, Carlson) to describe Luiss black skin to be a pest to his future generations and will not go away regardless of the amount of powder used to cover it up. The author also uses the metaphor, a fly in milk (Cool Salsa, Carlson) to describe his existence as in being a constant reminder of their inferior Puerto Rican root in a society that thought them less. Lastly, at the end of the text the main persona uses the words unloaded gun to show a sense of inner power he has that trumps the horrible acts bragged about by Douglas indicating that he is aware of whats going on and that he can deal with it in his own independent way. The tone was pride, perseverance, and shame. Douglas was proud of his hate crimes and showed it by bragging about it to his classmates. He even bragged about it in earlier of students who were victimized themselves with no thought to their regard at all. The main character overcame his struggle of having black skin and big lips by acknowledging that he was similar to his great grandfather even though the rest of his family tried not to. The family openly expressed their feelings of shame by refusing to keep a picture of him in the lieu as if they despised their Puerto Rican ancestry. They tell stories of Luis using a powder in an attempt to bleach his skin as memories for the grandchildren as if making a taunt of him.The theme is about a boy facing racism in a society that allows it and is exposed to his familys negative feelings toward their Puerto Rican roots by disowning Luis, the ancestor. The story reflects a type of dj vu between the main character, the great grandson, and Luis, the great grandfather, because of their Puerto Rican traits that they shared that consisted of big lips and black skin that were social hardships for twain men within their historic time periods. The theme also includes violence, racism, deadly weapons without ammunition. My personal opinion of this literature is sadness towards Luis, the great grandfather, for having Puerto Rican traits like big lips. Also, the trigger that mentions white powder used to cover up Luiss black skin is as if he were trying to erase his authentic identity to occasion another that was more fitting for his own personal interest and of his family. As I read the story, I also felt feelings of anger towards Douglas for the v ery use of goods and services of trying to bring mental or physical harm to innocent people. I did however get a sense of contentment for the main character in the end with his choice of words and persevering tone, Douglass unloaded gun. Its as if he were saying that he can take on the whole world, as ugly as it can be, and persevere through it. I also find it difficult to imagine, realistically, the struggles that the young black children faced in advance throughout their lives with this event as another similar memory added to the many they probably faced.