How we cite our quotes: (Poem.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"I'm half-breed. I'll be the first to say it. I'll speak for both sides." (VI.22)
Because he's half Laguna Pueblo and half white, Tayo really does speak for both sides in this novel. Check out our analysis of his character for more on this.
Quote #8
"The war was over, the uniform was gone. All of a sudden that man at the store waits on you last, makes you wait until all the white people bought what they wanted. And the white lady at the bus depot, she's real careful now not to touch your hand when she counts out your change." (VI.22)
Tayo bitterly tries to get his friends to face up to reality—the acceptance they felt from white society during the war years didn't really mean that racism had ended. Racism is still going strong when the war ends.
Quote #9
"Nothing is that simple," he said, "you don't write off all the white people, just like you don't trust all the Indians." (XIII.71)
While this novel makes plenty of accusations against whites and white culture, it also points out that the terrible things white people have done are not the essence of their race. Even though white people have historically treated Native Americans very poorly, that doesn't mean all white people are bad.