Saenz: A Response
In today’s society, racial profiling is not unheard of; actually it is quite common. It is still at debate whether the act of racial profiling in moral or not. In Saenz’s essay, Exile. El Paso, Texas, he describes his personal experience of discrimination due to his ethnic background. Saenz is a Mexican-American and because he lives in El Paso, which is a border town, he is often mistaken for an illegal immigrant. Saenz is stopped on the streets of his neighborhood and questioned by border patrol. On one such occasion, Saenz becomes annoyed and says to himself, “…pretty soon I’ll have to carry a passport in my own neighborhood.” Saenz describes his anger and despair brought by the discrimination he experiences in El Paso. Saenz attempts to show the reader what it is like to be the subject of racial profiling and show the impact of racial profiling on the individual. Saenz effectively does this through his color symbolism, and tonal shifts in dialogue. Saenz comes up with an interesting and clever way to present the effects of racial profiling. He uses color to effectively portray his feelings. Towards the beginning of the essay, Saenz sees the colors that represent El Paso as good. Saenz says, “…I looke
Saenz is also able to effectively show the affects of racial profiling on the individual through his tonal shifts in dialogue. In Saenz’s first encounter with border patrol, he has a very nonchalant attitude. Saenz states, “…it wasn’t hurting anyone to answer her questions. It was all very innocent, just a game.” Despite the rude questioning of the female border patrol officer, Saenz tries to stay friendly and appeasing. Afterwards, Saenz regrets the way he handled the situation saying, “I was embarrassed, ashamed because I’d been so damned compliant like a piece of tin foil in the uniformed woman’s hand.” The next encounter Saenz becomes a bit feistier with the border patrol officers. This is the first stage of Saenz’s tonal shift. Saenz begins to spout out brash comments. When asked where on the street he lived, he replies, “Are you planning on making a social visit?” The tonal shift continues, and with each pursuing officer Saenz becomes more aggressive. Saenz feeling of annoyance turns to pure hatred. Saenz states, “He hated me as much as I hated him.” Saenz’s tonal shift is completed in his final confrontation of the essay. In this run in with the border patrol Saenz’s defiance is most blatant. Saenz is pushed past his threshold and snaps, saying to the officer, “Read me my rights, throw me in the can, or leave me alone.” The reader is able to view Saenz’s change in attitude. It is easy to see that the first time Saenz and the border patrol meet up, it is innocent and for the most part Saenz is compliant. At the end of the essay Saenz’s defiant attitude is obvious to the reader. Saenz hopes for the reader to feel his frustration and relate to his feelings. T
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,
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Approximate Word count = 1168
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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