Hair (Symbol)
Hair is a major symbol of ethnicity and culture. This makes the symbol of hair stand out in Outcasts United as a way for young, black refugees in Clarkston to navigate their racial and cultural identities. When Luma made a rule that all the Fugees players must have hair shorter than hers, she knew that it would stir up some issues. Prince, a Liberian player on the Under Fifteens team did not want to cut the braids he had grown out over the summer to mimic one of his favorite NBA players. He felt as though she was asking him to choose between his identity as an American, which he had been developing since he moved to the country quite a few years before, and his role as a refugee and team member. In the end, he was kicked off the team, which upset his teammates, especially his clique of fellow Liberians on the Under Fifteens team. However, Luma saw this as an important move in establishing how serious she was about following rules and trying to keep her players out of gangs.
Sports Equipment (Symbol)
Throughout the book, sports equipment is used to symbolize the privileges some sports teams, and their players and staff, enjoy relative to others. When new members of the Fugees showed up for tryouts, Luma often has to provide them with adequate footwear; sometimes she even took her own shoes off and gave them to players. In comparison, the teams they played against often had new, well-fitting, and matching uniforms as well as high-quality gear such as bags and practice materials. While the sports equipment did not make the teams better, it certainly helped them to feel more comfortable and confident.
The sports equipment the Fugees team had also represents the amount of charity and attention people are willing to give them. When Luma first starts the team, they got some donations, though much of the equipment was too large or too old to function. By the end of the book, when the article published by Warren St. John causes the Fugees to get national attention, they started to get more and better donations of equipment.
Food (Motif)
In Outcasts United, food represents culture, hospitality, and care. When refugees first started to move to Clarkston, they would have had to assimilate in terms of food because there were no stores or restaurants selling international food. However, as the demographics of Clarkston changed and the market for flavors from the Middle East, North Africa, Vietnam, and many other places grew, some restaurants selling traditionally American foods closed and places like Talars, Luma's favorite grocery store in Clarkston, opened. The transformation of Clarkston can be seen through these shifts in the food sold, and new refugees could find comfort in cooking the foods they were used to. Furthermore, since many of the refugees in Clarkston were living in or near poverty, food was an especially important sign of them welcoming Luma into their homes and Luma caring for them. Luma often bought groceries or small treats for her players and their families when she knew they had run out of money, and in return she was invited to their homes for traditional meals of foods like cassava and stewed greens.
Clarkston (Symbol)
Clarkston, the town where the Fugees team was formed, symbolizes the United States in general. Much of the population of Clarkston is made up of white people who have lived in the United States, most of them specifically in this part of Georgia, for their entire lives. Before the 1980's, there was very little diversity in the town. However, when the town became a hot spot for refugee placement, tensions rose due to xenophobia, fears, and prejudices. Since the white people still had power through government positions, leadership roles in organizations like the community center, and the police department, they did not do much to help the refugees acclimate and get the help they need. This symbolizes how the United States is seen as a land of promise to many people around the world, but when foreigners arrive and try to make a life in the United States, they often face legal and social challenges.
The Simpsons (Symbol)
The Simpsons is a popular American TV show, and it is used to represent American culture in Outcasts United. In the book, the author compares Generose's three sons, Alex, Bien, and Ive. Because Alex was the oldest when he came to the United States, his English was the worst and he was the least acclimated to American life and culture. Bien spoke better than his older brother, but struggled in school due to his poor reading and writing skills in English. Ive, the youngest son, had come to the United States when he was very young, so his English was the best and he was the most used to American culture. The author writes, "His favorite TV show was The Simpsons, and he spoke with a knowing tone that sounded a lot like Bart Simpson’s" (120). This shows how immersed Ive was in American culture. In the epilogue, The Simpsons is brought up again when Ive found out that Indiana is also in America; Ive was relieved that in his new home people would still speak English, eat pizza, and watch his favorite TV show.
