Hunger of Memory

Rodriguez discusses how school distanced him from his family. What made him feel this way?

Rodriguez was forced to learn English in order to succeed at school while Spanish remained the language of his home. Why does Rodriguez argue against bilingual education even though being educated solely in English created a distance between him and his parents?

Explain how Rodriguez’s relationship to Catholicism changed over time. What were some of the major moments that impacted his life as a Catholic?

How did Rodriguez’s parents react to his complexion? How did this affect his relationship to his skin and appearance?

How does Rodriguez relate to or reject the macho persona that is expected of him?

How did the summer Rodriguez spent working in construction with Mexican workers shape him? What did he see as the fundamental difference between him and the workers?

What is Rodriguez’s argument against affirmative action?

Rodriguez frequently discusses feeling caught between two cultures, such as those of his Mexican-American family and the majority-white settings of higher education. Discuss moments in your own life when you felt pulled between different identities. How are Rodriguez’s experiences similar to or different from yours?