Commentary On Outcasts United By Allison Bekas

Outcasts United by Allison Bekas

“One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.” ~ Euripedes We all have family troubles, disagreements, and sorrows, but it seems they came in abundance for those on the Fugees soccer team. They were a group of foreigners, outcasts, who all shared a common passion: soccer. They have seen the horrors of war and they are left with nothing when they come to America. They form an unlikely team and are confronted with the problems of finding a home field, buying uniforms, and staying away from teenage violence. However, when trials come, the team never failed to show their love and support for each other. A main theme the author, Warren St. John, tried to convey throughout the entirety of Outcasts United

The Ziaty family of Monrovia came to Atlanta, Georgia thinking life would be glamourous. They were terribly mistaken. The mother, Beatrice, was unemployed and couldn’t find work that was nearby. However, Luma quickly discovered all the mothers of the children on her team needed financial help. The text supports Luma’s efforts and ideas by reading, “She wanted to start a business that could employ women like Beatrice, paying them fairly without making them commute halfway across Atlanta… She had a simple idea... a cleaning business that would employ refugee mothers.” Luma followed out on her promise of supporting the families financially by saying, “‘When I got to know the families and their struggles, I know I couldn’t fail… I couldn’t quit… I was on the hook to succeed. And I did.’” These quotes prove how much Luma cared about the team’s families and that they can have enough money to live. She felt she couldn’t stop until the mothers had jobs, and she

They consult Luma in dealing with the boys’ insolent demeanors. Many of the boys began wearing low, baggy jeans and kept their hair at excessively long lengths, refusing to trim it. Others defied upper authorities and partook in cutting academic classes, skipping soccer practices, and talking back to their mothers and siblings. As Mandela aged, his respect for Beatrice and Luma diminished. Luma said, “‘...but you don’t have the discipline or respect to play. You don’t respect me, and you don’t respect your family or team. You show up to practice when you feel like it, you cuss at your teammates.’” This shows how as Mandela aged, he fails to show respect. But later on Luma said, “‘I don’t want to give up on him.’” After their argument, Luma and Mandela made up, and he spent time reflecting on Luma’s words. He was once again the sweet teenager his main and soccer family knew and