Place, Identity, and Belonging
Throughout the novel, the character’s relationships with the town of Mecca and its surrounding areas are integral to their identities and sense of belonging. Johnny Frias, a California Highway Patrol officer, is a Mexican-American whose parents were born in California before it was a part of the United States. Matelasse Rodrigue is a light-skinned Black woman who is often mistaken for Mexican, and her lineage is traced to California’s old citrus groves, to the fields of the Coachella Valley, to a Louisiana slave plantation. Ximena is a young undocumented Mixtec woman from Oaxaca who runs between Mecca and Los Angeles to escape detainment and deportation. All three characters are deeply connected to their place of origin and this connection shapes their identities. Johnny is fiercely loyal to his hometown and will do anything to protect it. For Matelasse, her connection to the land is a source of strength and resilience. Ximena is also deeply connected to her homeland in Mexico.
The Power of Language
The theme of the power of language in this novel is explored through the various characters and their struggles to negotiate their identities in a world of conflicting languages and cultures. The characters in the novel use language as a tool to bridge gaps between communities, express their feelings and navigate their different worlds. For example, Johnny is forced to learn English to be accepted as an American, while Ximena has to learn English to survive in the U.S. Matelasse uses language to communicate her Black identity and to connect with her family’s past. In this way, Straight emphasizes the importance of language in creating a sense of belonging, connection, and understanding. Straight also shows how language can be used as a tool of oppression, as the characters must learn to speak American English to be accepted, a process that can be difficult and arbitrary.
Racial Conflict and Inequality
Through the interwoven narratives of Johnny, Matelasse, and Ximena, the author showcases intricate intersections of personal and familial histories to create a wide and deep view of a dynamic, multiethnic Southern California. As the characters navigate their varying racial identities, they are constantly confronted with the harsh realities of a society that is structured to privilege certain groups over others. Johnny and Matelasse are both of mixed heritage, their lives shaped by the legacy of their ancestors’ struggles and experiences. Ximena, an undocumented migrant, faces the violence and danger of crossing the border as well as the constant threat of detainment and deportation. The characters must also contend with the language of whiteness to survive, a language that is fluid, generational, and arbitrary.
Community and Connectedness
The novel follows the lives of three different characters—Johnny Frias, Matelasse Rodrigue, and Ximena—all of whom are connected to the same desert locale of Mecca and its surrounding communities. Through their stories, Straight paints a picture of the deep and interconnected nature of community in this place, as each character's life is affected by and inextricably linked to the other two. Straight emphasizes how the power of community is essential for survival in this desert town. Johnny, Matelasse, and Ximena all face personal and societal catastrophes, but they are able to endure because of their network of family and friends.
