Carlos Bautista García English 1010 Prof. Colón

Introduction  In this presentation, I’m going to explain the most important elements of the Story: “American History”.  The author of this story is Judith Ortiz Cofer. This woman was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico. She went to the United States as a young girl after her father joined the U.S. Navy. She learned Spanish first and then English. This multicultural influence helped her to write about this experience.  She has received honors for writing short stories.  One of then is American History. Let’s talk about that story.

Subject of the story  "American History" is a story that presents in a time frame in which the President Kennedy was shot and killed. It was also in the time when it was hard for immigrants.  In the Story "American History“, Cofer tells about her childhood and growing up in a building that was housed by immigrants. The story is about Elena’s troubles and hardships of her life as being an immigrant from Puerto Rico. She found a boy, Eugene and she liked him. Then, he asked her to go his house to study but his parents don't approve her.

Analysis of the Story  Elena, remembers the day former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Though the people around Elena are horrified by President Kennedy’s death, she is more taken by her own tragedy: being shunned by her neighborhood crush, Eugene, and his family. Ortiz Cofer’s story explores the theme of tragedy, both personal and collective, as well as tragedy’s ability to simultaneously bring people together and push them apart.

Analysis of the Story  “American History” tangentially reveals how a collective tragedy such as the assassination of President Kennedy can be experienced simultaneously by a multitude of people. Though there is a large gulf in terms of experiences between Elena’s family and Eugene’s family, both families are deeply affected by the president’s death. Similarly, teachers and adults at Elena and Eugene’s school share these feelings of grief. Ortiz Cofer’s story explores the effects of a large tragedy on different communities of people.

Conclusion  “American History” gave me the opportunity to think about to grow up consequences between two cultures. The children don’t understand why the prejudgment and discrimination by nationality can separate us, but they can feel it.This story remember me that the society needs to be more open with ethnicity. The people needs to learn of children and their sensibility. This possibility can help us to be a better world citizens.