Search results
“American History” by Judith Ortiz Cofer (1) I once read in a “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” column that Paterson, New Jersey, is the place where the Straight and Narrow (streets) intersect. The Puerto Rican tenement known as El Building was one block up from Straight. It
Set on November 22, 1963, the day of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Judith Ortíz Cofer’s semi-autobiographical short story “American History” is a snapshot of racial tensions in 1960s blue-collar New Jersey.
About Judith Ortíz Cofer. Historical Context: The Assassination of President Kennedy. Full Plot Summary. The story begins on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. As the news spreads, the town of Paterson, New Jersey, reacts.
Elena and her mother clash over her growing interest in romance, a typical source of tension between teenagers and their parents. However, Elena’s mother’s assertion that she is changing and forgetting who she is also reveals their growing divide over assimilating with mainland American culture.
Judith Ortiz Cofer's short story "American History" is a coming-of-age tale set in the early 1960s, when racism and segregation were still in full bloom. The story's fourteen-year-old protagonist, Elena, is a Puerto Rican immigrant living with her family in Paterson, New Jersey, when President John F. Kennedy is assassinated.
“American History” follows Elena’s transition from childhood to adulthood, a time often characterized by tension between what children want and what their parents want for them. In the story, Elena’s mother has different goals and ideals for Elena than Elena has for herself.
by Judith Ortiz Cofer. Start Free Trial. Summary. Themes. Questions & Answers. Analysis. Lesson Plans. Summary. PDF Cite. Skinny Bones is a teenage Puerto Rican girl struggling to adapt to life in...
