Discussion

Sample 1

Julia Sample Professor Marie Dybala English 1302: CRN ##### 4 October 2021

Tree Diagram

Thesis Sentence: Sweetness, a resentful mother, depicts how deeply racial discrimination

damages the victims’ well-being and and every aspect of their lives through her questionable

parenting choices, her acceptance of societal norms, her mitigation techniques in society, and her

personal relationships.

Subtopic One: Her questionable parenting choices

1. Didn’t take her outside much to avoid stares

2. Embarrassed of daughter because of how dark her skin is

3. Told her to call her something else other than mother

4. Raised her very strict from young age to keep her head down

Quote(s): “At first I couldn’t see past all that black to know who she was and just plain

love her.” told Sweetness.

Subtopic Two: Her actions based on what's normal and accepted in society/societal norms

1. Keeping quiet around other people as to not draw attention

2. Being proud and happy to be light passing

3. Doing certain things to not be bullied or antagonized by white people

4. Not talking back to not get arrested or worse

Quote(s): “With that skin, there was no point in being taught or sassy, even when you were

right.” Sweetness explained.

Subtopic Three: Her mitigating the stress in public interaction.

Sample 2

1. Holding on to dignity by light passing, status

2. Avoiding being spit on

3. Name calling and being treated like less of a person because you are a person of color

4. Not being able to get an apartment

Quote(s): “Back in the nineties…, the law was against discriminating in who you could rent

to, but not many landlords paid attention to it. They made up reasons to keep you out.”

Sweetness talked about when she was trying to rent an apartment.

Subtopic Four: her lack of personal relationships.

1. Broke up her relationship with her husband

2. Strained her relationship with her daughter/ was a burden

3. Regret about how she raised Lula

4. Felt justified in her actions because she was taught that it was her against everyone else

who is white

Quote(s): “What you do to children matters. And they might never forget.” Sweetness said.