Culture Analysis of Hisaye Yamamoto and Sherman Alexie's Readings

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Culture shapes people’s lives. It shapes people’s perspectives, values, and identities. Hence, it is essential to understand one’s culture and even other people’s cultures, especially since the world is diverse and people need to interact with others in their daily lives. Moreover, understanding each other’s cultures enables people to communicate their feelings and thoughts effectively without the risk of misunderstanding and further consequences (TEDx Talks, 2017). Thus, through two different texts, this paper aims to highlight the differences in various groups’ cultures, the discrimination against groups, and why it is essential to understand the culture to promote peace and well-being.
“Wilshire Bus,” a short story by Hisaye Yamamoto, appears in his collection, Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories, and talks about racism. The plot revolves around Esther, a Japanese woman who takes the Wilshire Bus to see her husband (Yamamoto, 1998). On the ride, she witnesses an American man who throws hate against a Chinese couple. In addition, other experiences on that ride made her realize that White people are racists not only to Asians but also to other minorities. Esther is similar to most people. Esther is proud to be Japanese but cannot say it aloud or show it off because she fears what others will think and say about her. Therefore, Esther embodies the culture of people from minority groups who face discrimination from Whites. Hence, the story is about Whites being racist and superior to other groups.
Meanwhile, Sherman Alexie’s “This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona” highlights the story of how Victor and Thomas form a bond and take care of each other, and it also tells an account of the life of the Native Americans. Thomas, a Native Ameri...