Analyse af 'So What Are You Anyway?'

Racism and discrimination are some of the most inhumane and spiteful concepts to be conceived by the human mind. The ability to hate and judge another person solely because of the color of their skin is one of the cruelest phenomena of our modern time. Racism is often portrayed as loud and violent, but its quieter, more hidden forms can oftentimes be just as damaging - especially to a child. In his short story So What Are You Anyway? author Lawrence Hill explores the effects of racial discrimination on a young girl.

This short story takes place in an airplane taking off from Toronto Airport. We are told the year is 1970: “Imagine, talking to a child like that, and in 1970!” (p.2). Carole is headed to visit her grandparents, flying alone at a young age. This journey taken by the protagonist could symbolize a new chapter in her life, a change which she undergoes on the aircraft. The plane doesn’t take off and land in the same place, much like the Carole towards the end of the story isn’t the same girl that entered the plane in Toronto. The airplane is also a confined space, where there is nowhere to run, and Carole is forced to confront her racial identity. This tight, controlled environment also enhances the tension between the characters. She has no immediate escape from the uncomfortable, invasive conversation.