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A Young Girl's Identity In The Other Family By Himani Bannerji

555 Words3 Pages

In "The Other Family'' by Himani Bannerji, The author highlights a young girl struggling to grasp her identity as a South-Asian and dark skin individual. She has grown up to believe that the only way to have an ideal family is to be white. The main argument in this story is presented as how the young girl's mother’s outburst, helps her find her voice and accept her culture and heritage. The first proof of this argument is presented after the mother yells at her. The story shows how the young girl felt cornered and threatened when her mother questions her about the painting she had painted; a white family. Her mother’s outburst forces her to question and reflect. This leads the young girl to analyze herself. She finally notices; “The brownness …show more content…

At first glance, it may appear that a young girl is dejected by her appearance. However, it becomes apparent that the young girl is rather embracing and reconciling with her own identity which diverges entirely from the illusion of a stereotypical family. The second proof found in the text to support this argument is when the young girl paints her family and claims it as “‘The Other Family.’” (Bannerji 162). The story shows how she paints a family with a young girl with a scar on her nose, a dark-skinned mother wearing traditional clothing, and her father with a dark beard. The mothers questioning and fit of fury urged her child to open her eyes, and accept her and her family for who they truly are. Her taking the initiative to paint her family despite what every other kid was painting, shows courage and understanding of what her mother meant. The young girl had looked passed the violent way her mother had questioned and rather focused on the important factor; staying true to your identity. The third and final proof of evidence is found in one of the last sentences of the short story. “‘Who are they?’” asked the teacher, though she should have known. But the little girl didn't mind answering this question one bit.” (Bannerji,

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