Judith Ortiz Cofer's "American History" is about a Puerto Rican girl and what happens to her on the same day as President Kennedy's assassination. The assassination is a major event in America's history because the whole nation was shocked when it happened. Many people who were alive at that time would often asked friends and family what they were doing when Kennedy was shot. They would discuss their reactions and surprise, but most everyone was glued to the television or radio for news about what had happened that day.
Since the background for this short story is a historical event in America, the title is appropriate; however, what happens to Elena is also part of the history of America. Elena is Puerto Rican and experiences prejudice at school and from neighbors for who she is. Ironically, she experiences this prejudice from African Americans, most of whom were fighting for civil rights during the 1960s. She also experiences prejudice from a white neighbor on the day that Kennedy died. So, while the whole nation is shocked and glued to the news about Kennedy's death, another part of our nation's history is being played out when Elena is turned away by her friend's mother just because she is poor and Puerto Rican. Therefore, the theme could be that America's history is happening all around us all of the time. Some of it gets publicized on television and some of it is experienced deep within the hearts of her citizens.
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