In The Story of my Body, a short story by Judith Ortiz Cofer, she examines her life between two different cultures, living in Puerto Rico and the United States. To give you a little background information about the time this was written it would probably help to know what a ‘diaspora’ is. It’s when large groups of people move from their original homelands and settle in new areas (Odekirk). The Puerto Rican Diaspora took place during the twentieth century, after Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Much of the migration took place between the 1940s and the 1970s, also the time of the Great Migration, due to economic and structural changes after World War II (Hinojosa 233). Most settled in New York City looking for new job opportunities.
Through Ortiz Cofer’s story we are able to see a glimpse of what it was like for Puerto Ricans living in the United States during this time. The story in itself is organized in a way that focuses on each of her attributes (Skin, Color, Size, Looks) and explains how each is reflected in both cultures. Ortiz Cofer’s first words she writes portrays how vastly different she was viewed in each culture when she says, “I was born a white girl in Puerto Rico but became a brown girl when I came to live in the United States” (434). It was clear that she was viewed and thought of differently all because of the color of her skin and the way she looked on the outside. She even recalls the first time she realized this, when the ‘mean brother’ from the supermarket accused her of trying to steal the Susie doll and of being ‘dirty’.
After many years, the migration to the U.S. is still ongoing, as Puerto Ricans living in America spread to further geographical areas and gain more independence. Tensions still arise over various political, social, and specifically educational issues. In a journal by Anthony de Jesús and Rosalie Rolón-Dow, it states, “Puerto Ricans educated in U.S. schools have alternately experienced schools as sites of oppression, struggle, resistance and hope”. This issue was reflected in Ortiz Cofer’s writing, as she explains she was never called on by the teachers, picked last, and called mean names.
As Ortiz Cofer documents her life experiences, we can see the devastating backlash endured by immigrants in the United States. We live in a society that too often neglects and misrepresents marginalized people creating false stereotypes and identities. Nothing about this is right as everyone deserves to share their truths before being misunderstood just as Ortiz Cofer wrote about hers.
Citations:
Jennifer, Hinojosa. “Two Sides of the Coin of Puerto Rican Migration: Depopulation in Puerto Rico and the Revival of the Diaspora”. Academia, vol. 30, no. 3, 2018.
Jesús, de Anothony., Rolón-Dow, Rosalie. “The Education of the Puerto Rican Diaspora: Challenges, Dilemmas, and Possibilities” Centro Journal, vol. 19, no. 2, 2007.
Odekirk, Sally. “The Puerto Rican Diaspora: From the Island of Enchantment to the United States.” Family Search Blog, 18 Dec. 2020, https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/puerto-rican-diaspora-new-york/ Accessed 3 Sept. 2021.
Hi Riley!
I really like how you tell the story of her background and personal life as it gives us more information while we read about the story of her body. I especially like your last paragraph how you emphasize how we live in a society that neglects and marganalizes people creating false identities and stereotypes. I think that is a huge talking point as it involves our everyday life and society. Also, about how everyone deserves to have their truth told before being misunderstood. Many people never get a chance to speak their truth and this can take a huge toll on their life. If I was not able to fully display my whole truth I feel as if a part of me is missing from what other people look at me and see. This is also a huge topic as it focuses on our ever changing world and the everchanging people in it.
Hello Riley! I really love how your post overviews Cofer’s story and gives a general idea of what the author had experienced. I think it sets up great further discussion into nuances with societal standards and inner intrusive thoughts. I personally related to Cofer’s story very deeply since I, too, had moved away from my homeland at a young age where people have more melanin than in America. While America might be referred to as the “mixing pot” and over the years has sheltered many people of different nationalities over the years, white people are predominant in this nation. And while being accused of being “dirty” and stealing just because of skin color is something no one should experience, there are many ethnic injustices committed against people of color. So it’s true, society has created single stories about so many nations and have simply went with it. No one tries to educate themselves and people of color continuously suffer because of this. I completely agree with your last paragraph where you state that the backlash and injustice is devasting. I think most people just want to be accepted in society; we (the people) need to come together and work against centuries of stereotypes and single stories.