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The author wants us to know that racism and marginalization can create tension between those who it is perpetrated against.

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I think this quote points to the ongoing idea of helplessness in the story. Just like Lewis , his mom is trapped too. Too afraid to fight back, knowing the consequences could be devastating to the family, they both are stuck in these awful situations

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The rhetorical question: “Why don’t you fight back?” represents the theme of helplessness in the face of trauma which has arisen because of discrimination faced for being a member of a marginalized identity. Although Lewis’ mother could fight back, she cannot answer this question because the losing result is unanimous. Systemic racism is not a single but a universal problem that will take more than just a single act of defense, regardless of how unfair the circumstances. Lewis asks this question of his mother as a complaint, rather than a request.

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Physical, emotional, and economic violence can produce visible (and invisible) traumas in people’s lives.

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Theme: Violence, generational trauma, power dynamics 

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Lewis’ mom wants Lewis to stand up against violence, but becomes violent with him herself. 

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Lewis’ mom wants Lewis to stand up against violence, but becomes violent with him herself. 

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1. The author wants to establish how Louis’ economic situation is effecting him by forcing him to “wash his hair in pans” and also his mother, who has no choice but to put up with mistreatment from her boss because she desperately needs money to survive.

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The author is telling us that minority groups struggle to fight back against their oppressors.

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Will the truth set you free? Or make your situation harder?

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The cycle of violence is evident as Lewis gets beaten up, he then takes some frustration out on his mother which prompts her to slap him. This follows the violence that his people have seen for decades. This causes him to feel like he cannot stand up.

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Lewis’ mother is hurt when he throws her words back, because she sees that her words are in fact true, that they have done “it” forever to her, and she is srill taken advantage of by Mrs. D.

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Theme: racial prejudice is so oppressive that it sometimes feels feeble to fight back against.

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The author wants us to know that people without power have to burden more responsibility than those with power

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The author wants us to know that racism leads to multi-generational trauma.

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I think the author is trying to say that minority groups don’t feel like they can fight back due to societal standards

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I think the author is trying to tell me that minority groups do not have the societal autonomy to stick up for themselves.

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Theme

The author wants us to know that being in a minority race can be isolating.