“Sugarcane Scene” - “But Tell It Slant: From Poetry to Prose and Back Again”
Cofer explains, “In the case of the sugarcane scene I vividly recall the family road trips around the Island, the macho driving, and the blowouts in the white hot tropical heat. As an adult I can now imagine the tensions those little contretemps must have generated between my parents, and for my purposes, I have assigned rays of meaning to these ordinary events. In the poem I focused on the triad of mother-father-daughter and the sexual politics between the adults that will also affect the girl at the subconscious level.” Cofer uses her recollections regarding the sugarcane scenes during her childhood to compose a poem and an essay. The compositions are based on what she recalls reading her parents’ divergent approach to the scenes. Her father insisted that the sugarcane plantations were dangerous for girls whereas her mother held a contrary viewpoint. The poem summarizes the encounters at the sugarcane scene whereas the essay offers in-depth particulars of all the happenings around the sugarcane.
Lives of Latinas - “The Myth of the Latin Woman”
Cofer elucidates, “For them (Latinas) life is a struggle against the misconceptions perpetuated by the myth of the Latina is whore, domestic or criminal. We cannot change this by legislating the way people look at us." Manifestly, misconceptions are harmful in the Latinas' lives for they portray them in negative light which hinders them from delighting in discrimination-free existences. The stereotypes regarding the Latins are absolute hasty generalizations that elicit embarrassing moments for al Latinas. Moreover, Latinas' risk of being subjected to discrimination is immense due to the pervasiveness of the stereotypes. Legislation would be ineffective in eradicating the misconceptions since they are associated with mentalities and individuals' subjective notions regarding the Latinas.
Color - “The Story of my Body”
Cofer explains, “In the animal world it indicates danger; the most colourful creatures are often the most poisonous. Color is also a way to attract and seduce a mate. In the human world color triggers many more complex and often deadly reactions. As a Puerto Rican girl born of “white” parents. I spent the first years of my life hearing people refer to me as blanca, white." Cofer incorporates the effects of colors among animals to demonstrate the repercussions of skin colors among humanity. Both humans and animals cannot be absolutely colorblind because of socialization which assigns various meanings to skin colors. The labels assigned to various skin shades in Puerto Rico affirm that color is significant in defining individuals’ status. The pervasiveness of labels would complicate attempts to encourage Puerto Ricans to embrace color blindness.
“Competitive Sports” - “The Story of my Body”
Cofer recounts, "At the Paterson, New Jersey, public schools that I attended, the volleyball or softball game was the metaphor for the battlefield of life to the inner city kids-the black kids versus the Puerto Rican kids, the whites versus the blacks versus the Puerto Rican kids; and I was 4F, skinny, short, bespectacled, and apparently impervious to the blood thirst that drove many of my classmates to play ball as if their lives depended on it." Cofer prefers reading instead of participating in the sports which are manifestly divided along racial lines. Skin colors and ethnicity influence the players' team membership. It would be unbelievable for white kid to be a member of a black team. Sporting socializes the children to embraces skin-color linked racism. Instead of promoting competition in sports, the contests bolster racial wars.
