Peer Responses-A Legacy of Oppression- Exploring Exploitation and Displacement in The Latehomecomer
Peer 1
Hello,
Indeed, the theme of oppression is evident in most parts of the book The Latehomecomer. I think that theme creates the foundation for the author’s family’s transition into a better life. Therefore, the theme is important because it helps the readers understand why the author was excited to start a new life in America even though it was not her home country. Although the theme does not overlap with the theme I found, it enables the author to develop the plot, leading to the development of other themes. The theme also made me recall the experiences I encountered during a peaceful march when the police began stacking protestors.
Generally, your discussion was great. However, you may consider using direct quotes relating to the theme you recognized to support your claim. For example, you could support your argument that you concluded that the story had the theme of oppression based on the moments at the camp, such as Yang’s father being beaten by Thai soldiers, by providing the following quote; “Hmong men and women were beaten, raped, and killed when they ventured too far from the safety of their families and friends” (Van De Walle 66).
Thank you.
References
Van De Walle, John A., et al. Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics: Developmentally Appropriate Instruction for Grades Pre-K-2 (Volume I). 3rd ed., vol. 1, Pearson, 2017.
Peer 2
Hello,
Certainly, the theme of perseverance is dominant in the book The Latehomecomer because it enables the author to explain why her family’s journey to America was important to her. I think that the theme enables the author to connect her family’s experiences throughout their journey to America and bring out other themes, such as oppression and family. The theme is important because it enables the author to connect with her audience by evoking motions such as sympathy and admiration. The theme also reminds me of the experiences I have had when I struggled to acquire a job despite being discriminated against. The theme also overlaps with the theme of love and family because the family members rely on one another to overcome the challenges they face in their journey to America.
Notably, your discussion was great; still, considering one more example to support your claim that this book has the identified theme could enhance the discussion. One of the examples to consider is the author’s narration of some of the times they experienced hardships in the refugee camp as they waited for the day they would be traveling to America. One of the quotes that depicts such times is the statement, “Some nights my father would have to gather me up and take the bamboo mat outside for us to sleep underneath the big fluorescent lights of the camp, near the barbed wire fence. His arm pillowed my head from the hard ground. The guards and their guns looked down at us” (Van De Walle 110).
Thank you.
References
Van De Walle, John A., et al. Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics: Developmentally Appropriate Instruction for Grades Pre-K-2 (Volume I). 3rd ed., vol. 1, Pearson, 2017.
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Question 
A theme that I noticed in The Latehomecomer so far is oppression. We already know that the Hmong people themselves are an ethnic minority,
throughout history and even in current times minorities are most often victims of oppression. They were taken advantage of by Americans and then forced to flee into the jungles. Some of the camps they stayed at felt more like places of containment rather than places of refuge. Even in the beginning of the book the author said that Hmong meant contained.
Peer Responses-A Legacy of Oppression- Exploring Exploitation and Displacement in The Latehomecomer
Moments at camp such as Yang’s father being beaten by Thai soldiers helped me conclude that oppression is a big part of this book. This theme is important because it is what drives the characters in this story to keep going, to be free from this oppression they keep running. It connects to the lived experiences of so many refugees and immigrants around the world. This story of oppression and containment is not just about the Hmong people but also about all the other minorities that have faced or are facing this level of dehumanization. I think this theme is pretty straightforward and obvious, it is something that as readers we can piece together ourselves.