The stereotypes and bias have always put the minorities in the corner of the society where the dominant culture looks upon the members of such social groups with a vague outlook which in fact demeans the cultural root of the minority and challenges the tenets of humanity and equality among the members of the human race. Champion of the World by Maya Angelou and Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan explores the psyche of the individuals who belong to such minorities and create literary representation of the thoughts and views of the members of the communities in regard to the dominant culture. The dominant culture isolates the people from the mainstream of the society and their sense of identity remains shaken and their life becomes the journey for finding their true identity in the face of the dominant culture. Both the stories employ the devices of narration and description to express the issue to the readers. However, Maya Angelou portrays the issue with sheer style and leaves a lasting mark on the hearts of the avid readers.
Champion of the World portrays the story of the black community in Arkansas in the 30s of the previous century when the nation was going through the times of comprehension of rights of equality of the black people. The entire town gathers in the store which belongs to the narrator’s uncle as they listen together to the fight of Joe Louis, the black champion and iconic hero of the black people. They show their support for this person as he is up against a white challenger. They remain engrossed by the vivid details of the fight as described by the commentator. Even there is prohibition of ringing up sales as that would mean a distraction. The story, narrated by the young niece, describes the societal importance of the boxing match as it represents the fight for freedom from the dominant culture which has for ages cornered the blacks as subordinates to the white people. The author provides perfect description of the scenario and narrates the responses of the listeners in details. All these minute details bring forth the emotions of the of the hearts of the people who had gathered at the store to witness the match. The comments from the crowd reflect the racial resentments from the past times. The sporting match has transcended to the position of being symbolic of the long struggle of the black mass against the domination and isolation of the whites. A loss would mean a heart-wrenching experience for the entire black community. Even the beatings of Joe make the crowd remember the tortures which were meted out to them by the dominant race in United States of America. They show solidarity to the black player and completely associate their respective individual existence with him. Angelou pens, “We didn’t breathe. We didn’t hope. We waited.” (Angelou) As the player triumphs, the black people feel victorious too and are vindicated. The win provides hope to all of them and brings out their undying spirit of gaining equal status in the land in stark contrast to the ambitions of the dominant forces in the society. The author writes, “Champion of the world. A Black boy. Some Black mother’s son.” (Angelou) The story aptly communicates the struggles and problems which have come in the way of the minority group as they have struggled for equality and justice.
Fish Cheeks portrays the experience of Amy Tan as a youngster as she was torn apart in the dichotomy of the American and indigenous Chinese ethnicity. In a bid to impress her crush, Robert, who is the son of the minister, Tan understands that the Chinese traditions and ways of life are backward in comparison to the dominant culture of America. She perceives that the family’s behavior and traditions would come across as strange and even replusive to the minister’s family who are invited to Tan’s place on Christmas. She describes about the “strange menu” which only added to her embarrassment in front of Robert. However, at the end of the story she describes how she reached a point in life to realize that it is the individuality which sets a person apart in the middle of the dominant culture. The story portrays the narration of Tan’s wish of being accepted by Robert, who symbolizes the view of the dominant culture. Tan’s mother is found in the piece saying that Tan wants to be American on the outside, but she should remain a Chinese in her heart. She describes to her daughter, “You must be proud you are different.” (Tan) In the attempt to fit into the dominant culture and thus escape isolation, Tan had been forgetful of her own cultural identity. In the struggle to get westernized, she fails to see the traditional roots which were innate in her identity as an individual. Amy Tan aptly portrays the cultural pressure which is there on the minorities in America.
While Champion of the World portrays the black community and thus describes the common feeling of the individuals toward the match and issue, Fish Cheeks is more of a personal take on the comparisons of the two ethnicities and narrates the feelings and observations of Tan as a youngster. It is also evident in the story by Tan that her parents were not affected by a similar pressure of the dominant culture as they decided to prepare the dishes which were the favorite of their daughter. Champion of the World shows the emotions of the people present at the store as they get absorbed in the gradual proceeding of the boxing match. This leaves the reader greatly engaged in the narration of the story and the emotions of the blacks are felt to the highest degree. However, the story, Fish Cheeks, gives a rather plain description of the events and narrates the chronology of events which left Tan embarrassed and the whites shocked at the lack of etiquette of the family. The story does not create that emotional effect, but rather communicates the message aptly. At the end of the victory of Joe Louis, the readers are absorbed in the story as the author describes how it signifies the victory of the community over subordination. Fish Cheeks ends with a calm understanding of the true identity of Tan, in contrast. Thus, Champions of the World comes across as more successful in bringing forth the isolation of the dominant culture.
Thus, while the two stories describe the feelings of the members of minority in response to the pressure of the dominant culture of America and the isolation which waits for the minority, Maya Angelou is more successful in hitting the right chord with her readers and the story leaves a lasting effect in the minds of the readers owing to the elements of narration and description which are employed in the story.
Works Cited
Angelou, Maya. Champion of the World. Web. 14 July 2013.
Tan, Amy. Fish Cheeks. Web. 14 July 2013.
