Topic > Junot Diaz's exploration of the struggles of minorities and low incomes

In "How to Date a Brown Girl, a Black Girl, a White Girl, or a Halfie," Junot Diaz creates a detailed dating guide for a teenager in America. Yunior tells us this story by detailing his methodical approach on what to do during a date depending on the type of girl. Any changes she makes are interpreted simply as the variation between each girl's individual preferences or perhaps the actions of a typical teenager trying to hide things she finds embarrassing. Although this seems like classic behavior of a teenager, his way of following distinct elements with certain details suggests a different motive. Through his attempts to disguise his actions, Yunior alludes to the deeper social and socioeconomic challenges faced by minority and low-income communities that also test relationships. Ultimately, the subsequent changes he makes are intended to maintain the naive view that foreigners still have of society and are indicative of his desire for a life like theirs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayLike most teenagers, Yunior begins preparing for a secret date by convincing his mother to let him stay at home while she goes to visit an aunt. He later continues his plan by tidying up his family's apartment; mentions hiding several things, but explicitly emphasizes how to handle government cheese. He states: “Remove the government cheese from the refrigerator. If the girl comes from the Terrace, stack the boxes behind the milk. If he comes from Park or Society Hill, hide the cheese in the cabinet above the oven, up there where he can never see it.” This introductory passage is extremely important because it states the importance of government cheese, as well as the notable difference between the extent of hiding cheese from certain girls. Unlike his family photos or the trash can in the bathroom, Yunior clearly defines how he should hide the cheese if the girl who comes to visit is from Park or Society Hill, rather than one from the Terrace. By clearly expressing how he has to make sure the cheese is in a place where his companions would never see it, he begins to illustrate how these girls, or people from out of town, are from the distinct reality of his situation. Despite attending the same school, the separation between Yunior's perception of society and that of the outsider is further supported by his minimal effort to hide the cheese when a girl from the Terrace comes to his apartment. Although he is still a little embarrassed, he knows that the Terrace girls have a more direct understanding of their environment, as well as a sense of empathy towards this matter, and so he doesn't worry about being ridiculed. Apparently, both Yunior and the girls in her neighborhood understand how valuable the state cheese is to the families of their community and how it should not be perceived as something shameful. However, when expecting a stranger, Yunior exposes his discontent with cheese due to its imperfect connotation as a supplement for the poor and insinuates his true desire for a better quality of life. However, he still manages to point out how important government cheese is when he ends the story by saying, “Put the government cheese back where it belongs before your mother kills you.” Although he continues to mask his latent motivations with superficial statements, Yunior demonstrates his legitimate understanding of the adverse nature of his..