The friendship problem
In Far's experience, the attempt to make friends becomes a symbol for her early, limited understanding of racism and racial prejudice. She wants to be close to people, but she is often treated as different and unique, to her chagrin. She wants to be normal, but people continually point to her as a pariah, and so over time, these experiences stack up, becoming a symbolic emotional problem. She begins to wonder what it is that people hate about her, but eventually, she realizes that it is just her appearance that keeps newcomers at bay.
New York as a symbol
New York can be seen as a symbol for Far's experience of America in general, because New York is commonly accepted as one of the most important historical, economic, and cultural capitols of the nation. Her experience is that people in New York are rude to her, in general, and in New York, she learns that people are not just distant or prejudiced, but they can also be violent and cruel. Her time in New York symbolizes her differentness, because even in the plurality of New York, she feels she stands out like a sore thumb.
The symbolic rejection by the Chinese
One might think that since Far doesn't fit in as "normal" because she is Chinese, that she might automatically be accepted as Chinese among her Chinese culture, but actually, she is symbolically rejected by the Chinese communities she encounters, because they tend to label her as not-Chinese-enough. They treat her as if she were just another American with no right to claim Chinese heritage, symbolizing her dual experience of rejection. This also symbolizes the ubiquity of racism, because even her own countrymen treat her with contempt.
The symbolic duality of self
In some ways, Far's memoir is not as much about racism as it is about identity. The duality of her ethnicity is itself a symbol for a deeper dilemma. She feels misunderstood in general, because she knows that she is far more complex and valuable than other people notice. The memoir itself is a symbol of that dilemma, as she writes about something almost inexpressible—her opinion of her own perspective. There is always more to her than people seem to notice.
Journalism and reporting
Her career is a symbolic choice, because it shows her concern with objectivity, learning, and understanding. Her denial by various communities makes her a community of one, and from that secure, objective point of view, she is well-suited to see the world the way it is, instead of being blinded by cultural narratives. Her desire to write and to report is a symbol for her passion for truth.
