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The complex relationships between culture, identity, and belonging among marginalized populations are explored in "Traplines" by Eden Robinson and "The Appropriation of Culture" by Tobias Wolff. Unjust power dynamics are revealed in the ways that the main characters, Will and Daniel face the difficulties of societal expectations and pressures projected upon them from the people in their community. From overt acts of violence seen in Traplines when Will endures abuse both physically and mentally, to subtle micro aggressions as seen in The Appropriation of Culture when the confederate flag is used to oppress Daniel. In either case systemic racism can take many different forms, but always causes degrading harm.

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How do unjust power dynamics and systemic racism affect people of marginalized groups and their relationship, culture, identity, and belonging?

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The intricate connections among culture, identity, and belonging among marginalized groups highlight the unjust power dynamics that are inherent in society. Individuals within these communities often struggle with societal norms and expectations imposed upon them, leading to various challenges and pressures. These challenges can be overt or more discreet but both are extremely harmful.

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Both Will and Daniel experience racism and discrimination. Daniel experienced this in a more direct form, with the white young men in his town going out of their way to make him feel uncomfortable and othering him. Will experiences more of the indirect effects of racism, from seeing those round him be discriminated against and dealing with the repercussions that generational trauma brought into his home.

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-“He did hear Barb say, as Travis pulled open the door, 'I  couldn’t tell over the phone?'” (26 Everett).

-“One night, some white boys from a fraternity yelled forward to the stage at the black man holding the acoustic guitar and began to shout, 'Play Dixie for us! Play Dixi for us!'" (24 Everett).

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“Can you imagine a townie wanting anything to do with him?” 'Craig says. “She’s doing it as a joke….” I see it now. There’s a space around Billy. No one is going near him' (21 Robinson).

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Will observes his friend Craig being subjected, a form of othering in this situation. Elaine, Craig's girlfriend, and her friends make a conscious effort to put distance between them and Craig. Will notices this unspoken barrier that has been put up between Craig and the townies, almost as an attempt to keep him at a distance. Additionally, Will overhears his buddies saying that Elaine is only using Craig to obtain drugs; they think that she doesn't want anything to do with him and is only using him to get to what she wants.  Will's friends find it incomprehensible that a townie would want anything to do with a boy like Craig and believe it to be a joke.

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The entitled mainly white people in Daniel’s town make a conscious effort to make him and other black people feel ostracized and uncomfortable, even going out of their way to insure that Daniel does not have the same opportunities that they do. At the beginning of the story, the white men in his community have Confederate flags on the back of their trucks. They would parade this symbol around as a way to oppress the black people in their community, and remind them of the unspoken power that they hold over them.

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People surrounding Will and Daniel weather in their family or community have embodied certain stereotypes or biases against them. In Will's family drugs and alcohol are very prominent and one could say that his family has adapted the stereotype that Indigenous people are "drunken and lazy". In Daniel's case the white people in his town have adopted the belief that the African American people are below them, this can be seen in the way that young white men interact with Daniel throughout the story.

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"What are you doing with that on your truck, boy?” (29 Everett).

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By calling Daniel a "boy," the young white man degrades Daniel and subtly conveys his opinion that Daniel is not an equal and should be treated as such. By responding to the man as "brother," ( Author, page number) Daniel challenges this and forces the young man to see Daniel as an equal rather than as someone beneath him. This is only one instance of how a young, white male in Daniel's community utilized the unequal power dynamics that exist in society to display his personal biases.

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-'She glances around like the guys are going to jump her. I try to see what she’s nervous about. Tony is grabbing his crotch. Billy cleaning his nails. The other guys are snickering' (34 Robinson).

-'Oh, shit. He’s as high as a kite.…Brent is staring at me, glassy- eyed. He’s high too' (29 Robinson).

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In the first quote we get insight into Will’s mind as he observes the situation that unfolds around him. Will see’s that his teacher looks uneasy around him and his friends. As Will looks at his friends through his teachers point of view her internal biases about the young Indigenous boys are revelled. Will begins to internalize these biases and see his friends as dirty and shady. Will eventually comes to the conclusion that they merely don’t look nice.

In the second quote we see Will’s brother is high, his brother and parents also abuse substances frequently throughout the story. This is representative of Indigenous people embodying the stereotype that they are more susceptible to drug and alcohol use.

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In both stories Will and Daniel try not to give into predispositions and stereotypes that surround them and there culture. This can be seen in Daniel’s right to reclaim the Confederate flag as his own, and his pursuit for education. Will defies the biases laid upon him by not succumbing to addition like his friends and family, as well as putting effort into his education.

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-'Daniel regarded the rebel flag decal covering the rear window of the cab, touched it with his finger. “That thing will peel right off,” Travis said. “No, I like it”' (26 Everett).

-“So the goddam flag is flying over the State Capitol. Don’t take it down, just take it. That’s what I say” (28 Everett).

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Daniel was very aware of the meaning that the Confederate flag held when it was in the hands of white men. Instead of putting his head down and accepting the negative depositions that came with the flag he decided to reclaim it and gave it’s power back to his people.

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Even in her state Will’s mother is able to express how good of a person Will is as he helps her get to bed. Throughout the story we see him as a bit of an outlier as he doesn’t partake in drugs or alcohol, is known for being a good student, and tries his best to help out his friends and family. These attributes in Will defy the stereotypes that the people around him have bestowed upon him. Even though we see Will succumb to some biases later on in the story he still fights to overcome the challenges life throws at him, this is seen at the end of the story when Will runs away with his friend to Vancouver.

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“You’re a good boy,” 'she says, giggling. "You’re a good boy. Help your old mother back to bed, hey” (20 Robinson).

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Throughout the story we see Wills family dynamic and also his family’s financial struggles. Even though it its not blatantly stated it is obvious that his family is not very wealthy. This is a huge contrast to Daniel as his mother left him money and he is very wealthy, so well endowed that he was able to graduate from Brown.

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'Daniel Barkley had money left to him by his mother' (24 Everett).

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Daniels socioeconomic status is discussed at the beginning of the story and it is made very clear that he is well off. This gives Daniel the opportunity to buy a truck with a Confederate flag on it which he then reclaims as his own, Daniel then gains some respect from the white folks in town. Daniel’s wealth also allows him to obtain an education, supply him with opportunity, and provides him a kind of unspoken power over other’s who may not be as well off.

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Will is forced to share a room with his older brother Eric which negatively effects Will as it makes it difficult to sleep, do his school work, and stay away from substances as his brother does them. This kind of environment amplifies the effect of any challenges Will is going through. Will’s english teacher notices how harmful Will’s at home environment is and allows him to stay over when he pleases, even going as far as to ask him to live with her and her husband. In the end Will decides that it is best to escape this toxic environment by running away with his friend, this act of defiance speaks volumes about Will's character.

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'Just in case Eric gets out tonight, I make a bed under the tool table and go to sleep' (29 Robinson).

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Daniel is well educated and a student at Brown university, he struggles to find a use for his degree but is still driven and fortunate enough to get one. On the other hand Will struggles in school, especially because of his situation at home. Will was once a top student but through out the story we see his work ethic detonate, resulting in bad grades.

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'He had a degree in American Studies from Brown University..' (24 Everett).

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Daniels resources allowed him to obtain a degree at a prestigious school which will later on aid him in earring a successful job. Daniel is a detected and hard working student but this work ethic can also be attributed to the access Daniel had when he was younger to a good education and an environment that he can learn in.

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Will knows what he is capable of, he knows that if he does his work and studies he can excel in school. However Will’s family dynamic puts strain on his academics, making it difficult for him to study and attend school regularly as he is often back and forth between home and the Smythes house. Will would be able to focus on school much better if he had a safer environment to work in but when Mr. Smyth proposes the idea of Will living with them Will becomes hesitant and convinces him self that he would just become a burden.

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'I flunk my biology test. It’s multiple choice. I stare at the paper and kick myself. I know I could have passed if I’d read the chapter' (23 Robinson).

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Daniel is extremely defiant and is bale to confront the oppression and systemic racism in his community. On the other hand Will younger and does not have access to the same opportunities that Daniel does, making it much harder for him to confront the oppression and torment he endures. This makes Will much more susceptible to summiting to harmful stereotypes.

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'The irony of him playing the song (Dixi) straight and from the heart was made more ironic by the fact that as he played it, it came straight from his heart, as he was claiming southern soil, or at least recognizing his blood in it. His was the land of cotton and hell no, it was not forgotten' (24 Everett).

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There is a number of instances when Daniel shows strength and defiance in the face of adversity and hardships. This particular instance speaks volumes about Daniels character as he not only sings the song Dixi with passion and soulfulness but he sang it in a way that reclaimed this song and the message that comes with it. Daniel managed to not only silence the crude young men but he also invoked a sense of hope and determination among his fellow African Americans on stage with him.

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Will’s constant exposure to negative stereotypes begins to warp his own self procession and he begins to internalize these stereotypes. Will doesn’t have any positive role models in his life that are like him, someone that he can look up too and take guidance from. Will has the Smythes but they are white and unable to provide Will with the advice that he needs as they have never been in his situation and do not fully comprehend the generational trauma that comes with being Indigenous. As a result of this Will slowly adapts some stereotypes like flunking in school which can only lead to more issues.

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'I suddenly see them the way she does. They all have long, greasy hair, combed straight back. We’re all wearing jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers. We don’t look nice' (34 Robinson).

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In conclusion, Will and Daniel share an ongoing struggle with racism despite having some minor differences in their approaches to overcoming adversity and socioeconomic status. In the story Will deals with generational trauma and Daniel deals with more overt forms of oppression, but despite these differences both characters strive to overcome the imbalances of cultural diversity and fight against conformity. As Daniel and Will navigate their way through systemic racism, oppression and prejudice they both grow stronger in the face of adversity and become a beacon of hope for other’s that are in the similar situations.