Background Gary Soto was born on April 12, 1952, in the farming community of Fresno, California, to Mexican-American parents. In his essay “Being Mean” he talks of how his father and grandfather worked at the Sun Maid Raisin Factory and his mother peeled potatoes at Reddispud. Soto’s father faced an early death due to a work-related incident and his mother remarried. In his collection of poems entitled “Home Course in Religion” Soto talks of the arguments …showed first 75 words of 4284 total…

…showed last 75 words of 4284 total…this work is symbolism; he uses the phrase “Black Hair” to show his pride in being a Mexican-American. His hair symbolizes him, his roots, and his people. In his poem “Black Hair” Soto talks about his days as a young boy watching his favorite Latino baseball player in the park. In this work Soto talks of his pride in being Mexican-American and uses the poetic devices of imagery and symbolism to further emphasize his point.