Judith Ortiz Cofer’s “American History” is a coming-of-age story set in the 1960s, a time marked by racism and segregation. The protagonist, Elena, is a fourteen-year-old Puerto Rican immigrant residing in Paterson, New Jersey, when the assassination of President John F. Kennedy occurred. Despite this significant national event, Elena’s attention is focused on Eugene, her new neighbor and the subject of her daydreams. However, when Elena pays a visit to Eugene later that day, she encounters her tragedy in the form of prejudice.
“American History” was initially published as part of Cofer’s collection, The Latin Deli: Prose and Poetry, in 1993. This compilation, which features poetry and prose, received critical acclaim and accolades such as the Anisfield Wolf Book Award in 1994 and inclusion in the Georgia Center for the Books Top 25 Reading List.
American History | Summary
The story unfolds on November 22, 1963, the fateful day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The news spreads throughout Paterson, New Jersey, prompting various reactions from the townspeople. In El Building, a usually lively residence for many Puerto Rican newcomers, an eerie silence descends as the residents enter a state of shocked mourning. Meanwhile, Elena and her classmates at P.S. 13 are sent outside for gym class, where she participates in jumping rope with the other girls. However, Elena becomes the target of taunting by Gail and her classmates for her slow rope-turning, leaving her feeling both cold and disenchanted with her life in Paterson.
Amidst her dislike for school and the city, there is one exception—Eugene, a boy who recently moved into the house next to El Building during the summer. Elena’s apartment overlooks Eugene’s house and yard, which used to be tended to by an elderly Jewish couple she would observe. After the old man’s passing, the woman left, leaving the house vacant until Eugene’s family arrived. Unfortunately, Eugene’s father’s actions, such as mowing the yard and inadvertently killing the flowers, have disrupted the once vibrant family life Elena used to witness from her apartment’s vantage point. Nevertheless, Elena finds solace in watching Eugene sit at the kitchen table, engrossed in his reading.
At the beginning of the school year, Elena eagerly hopes to be in the same classes as Eugene. However, she learns that he is placed in the honors classes that Elena, despite being an excellent student, is not permitted to take due to her first language being Spanish. Despite this setback, Elena finds ways to be near Eugene, and their interactions lead to conversations and the beginnings of a friendship. However, Elena’s changing behavior catches the attention of her mother, who has become concerned about her daughter’s teenage morality. Suspecting infatuation with Eugene, Elena’s parents harbor dreams of moving to a suburb where they can have a house with a yard, reminiscent of their stories of life in Puerto Rico. While Elena’s parents envision retiring to Puerto Rico, Elena herself aspires to attend college in the U.S. and become a teacher, but her growing attraction to Eugene shifts her focus to the present rather than the future. She indulges in daydreams about entering the house next door and is captivated by the allure of Eugene’s home state, Georgia, fueled by her reading of Gone with the Wind. Elena envisions engaging him in conversations about life in Georgia. As she reflects on their shared outsider status at school, with Elena facing teasing for being Puerto Rican and Eugene facing ridicule for his Southern accent, their similarities draw them closer.
The narrative shifts back to the day of President Kennedy’s assassination. Mr. DePalma, the P.E. teacher known for handling challenging students, breaks down in tears as he lines up the students after their outdoor exercise. In a somber tone, he informs them about the president’s death. Uncertain about how to react, the students seize the opportunity to gather their belongings and leave school early. As Elena makes her way home, she notices an eerie stillness engulfing the town. People speak softly, and the absence of honking car horns adds to the unsettling atmosphere. Upon arriving at El Building, Elena finds her mother watching the TV, tears streaming down her face.
Although Elena understands that she should feel sadness over Kennedy’s death, she can’t help but feel joyful and excited. Her plans include going to Eugene’s house to study together and then heading to the library. She steals glances into his kitchen from her apartment, anticipating the moment when they can sit together at the table. Elena changes into different clothes, puts on some lipstick, and gathers her books. When she goes to inform her mother of her departure, a disagreement ensues. Her mother suggests she attend church as a sign of respect for the late president. However, Elena chooses to proceed with her plans despite her mother’s disapproval. In response, her mother warns her that she will ultimately be disappointed.
As Elena walks towards Eugene’s house, she contemplates the layout of Paterson, where small houses coexist with large apartment buildings like El Building—a testament to the city’s history of waves of immigrants shaping its landscape. She arrives at Eugene’s house and knocks on the green door, which opens just a crack, greeted by Eugene’s mother with an unfriendly demeanor. Elena explains that Eugene invited her, but his mother asks if she lives in El Building. Upon hearing Elena’s confirmation, Eugene’s mother refuses her entry, expressing in a seemingly sweet tone that Eugene shouldn’t make friends with people from Paterson as they will eventually leave. Elena stands frozen in shock, unable to move, until Eugene’s mother grows angry and closes the door behind her. Elena returns home to an empty apartment, and later that night, when her parents come back, they share their sadness over Kennedy’s death. Meanwhile, Elena experiences heartbreak over the loss of her dream of a relationship with Eugene. She pretends to be asleep when her mother checks on her. In the story’s final moments, she gazes out the window, watching the snowfall illuminated by the streetlight, aware that it will eventually turn gray upon touching the ground.
American History | Analysis
Throughout the story, Ortíz Cofer skillfully portrays a contrast between the perspectives of Elena and her schoolmates, and the adults who inhabit the same settings and witness the same events. This contrast is established early on, as the author symbolically separates the experiences of the children and the adults. The children are sent outside for P.E. class while their teacher, Mr. DePalma, remains indoors. The author employs quotation marks around the phrase “he in the meantime would ‘keep an eye’ on us” to convey that his supervision is ineffectual and that the students will navigate their world by their own rules. The students possess such a strong sense of their reality that not even an adult like Mr. DePalma, known for his ability to handle challenging students, can make them comprehend the magnitude of President Kennedy’s tragic death.
Throughout the story, Ortíz Cofer emphasizes the contrasting perspectives of adults and children, not only regarding the death of President Kennedy but also in their overall perception of life in Paterson. The adults consider their viewpoint unquestionable, while the children prioritize their interests and everyday concerns. Ortíz Cofer structures the narrative by alternating between the adult world’s response to Kennedy’s death and Elena’s preoccupation with her plans involving Eugene. The adults in El Building mourn the president’s death, and even the city’s traffic becomes subdued. However, Elena experiences joy knowing she has arrangements to visit Eugene’s house. While her mother prepares for Church, Elena applies pink lipstick. Even at the story’s conclusion, when Elena feels as sad as her parents, she recognizes that their sorrow revolves around Kennedy and his family, whereas her tears are for the loss of her potential relationship with Eugene.
The story highlights the transitional nature of various settings. It becomes evident that, despite their differences, most characters dislike life in Paterson and perceive it as a temporary stop on their way to a better place. Some, like Elena’s father, aspire to achieve the American dream of suburban living with a house and a yard. Others, like Elena’s mother, yearn to return to their former homes in search of better economic opportunities. Eugene’s mother refuses to establish roots, anticipating their departure from Paterson. Her concerns about Eugene’s connection with Elena partly stem from her belief that he should not form attachments within Paterson, which she regards as a transient place. Elena dreams of attending college and becoming a teacher but not in the cold and unwelcoming environment of Paterson. Even the elderly Jewish widow Elena used to observe in the neighboring house is portrayed as leaving Paterson.
Ortíz Cofer also depicts Paterson itself as a city in transition. Waves of different ethnic groups have passed through the city over the years, as evidenced by the contrast between the elderly Jewish couple and the Puerto Rican residents of El Building. The Jewish residents represent an established population that predates the events of the story, while the Puerto Ricans are more recent arrivals, comprising a younger demographic. This demographic change is reflected in the city’s architecture, with large apartment buildings like El Building emerging to accommodate the new arrivals, overshadowing and replacing the single-family homes from an earlier era. The result is a city marked by racial tensions, with a prevailing desire among its inhabitants to leave.
The story underscores the dual nature of American history, encompassing both significant events and ordinary moments. Taking place on the day of Kennedy’s assassination, a pivotal moment in U.S. history, the narrative explores how this event resonates on an emotional level with ordinary individuals. Despite lacking a personal connection to Kennedy, the characters experience his assassination as a significant event that affects their own lives. Ortíz Cofer portrays the emotional impact of historical events on ordinary people, even before practical consequences unfold.
However, the narrative focuses on the ordinary lives of characters like Elena and Eugene, highlighting the broader societal issues and struggles they face, reflective of the era’s tensions and inequalities.
In the story, Elena resides in a city that fails to appreciate her Puerto Rican identity, as evidenced by the girls at school teasing her for her perceived foreign food habits and Eugene’s mother rejecting her when she attempts to visit their house. Judith Ortiz Cofer portrays Elena as someone who has unconsciously internalized these negative ideas, absorbing racism into her worldview. Elena’s perspective, as conveyed through the narration, reveals her sense of shame regarding her identity and her fellow Puerto Ricans. El Building, the apartment complex where Elena lives, is consistently depicted as an embarrassing presence on the city’s streets. Instead of portraying the music emanating from its windows as evidence of a vibrant culture, the narration labels El Building as a “monstrous jukebox”. Although the community within El Building offers mutual support and collectively mourns President Kennedy’s death, Elena’s overall perception aligns with the confusion and chaos she associates with her sole memory of visiting Puerto Rico.
Additionally, Elena’s internalized racism is intertwined with the allure of whiteness that is captured in the story. The house next door becomes a potent symbol of this allure. Elena can intimately observe the life inside that house from her apartment, yet it remains just beyond her reach. This detail reflects how the world of whiteness and white privilege is visible but inaccessible to people of color. Elena’s yearning for the life she imagines within that house is connected to her fascination with Scarlett O’Hara, the white, slave-owning protagonist of Gone with the Wind, a book she hopes Eugene can help her understand. Furthermore, her father’s desire to move to the suburbs reflects a longing for assimilation into white culture, as suburbs during this period were predominantly occupied by white people seeking to maintain housing segregation. While a house with a yard is often depicted as an embodiment of the American dream, in this case, it is also entwined with the allure of whiteness. Throughout the story, Judith Ortiz Cofer explores the relationship between internalized racism and the allure of whiteness.
American History | Themes
In Judith Ortiz Cofer’s short story “American History,” the character Elena experiences a juxtaposition of personal and collective tragedies. While the people around her are deeply affected by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Elena is more preoccupied with her tragedy of being rejected by her crush, Eugene, and his family. Through this story, Ortiz Cofer explores the theme of tragedy, highlighting its power to both unite and divide people in different ways.
Elena’s personal tragedy in Judith Ortiz Cofer’s story holds a greater emotional resonance for both her and the readers compared to the assassination of President Kennedy. The reason behind this lies in Elena being the direct target of disapproval from Eugene’s family, which the readers witness firsthand. While the adults in the story and the residents of Elena’s apartment building can find solace in coming together to mourn the death of President Kennedy, Elena is left to endure her humiliation alone. Ortiz Cofer’s narrative highlights the lasting and profound impacts of even small tragedies, which can overshadow larger events in terms of their personal significance.
In “American History,” Judith Ortiz Cofer subtly explores the way a collective tragedy like the assassination of President Kennedy can be experienced by a diverse group of individuals. Despite the stark contrast in experiences between Elena’s family and Eugene’s family, both are profoundly impacted by the president’s death. Moreover, the teachers and adults at Elena and Eugene’s school also share this collective sense of grief. Through her story, Ortiz Cofer delves into the effects of a significant tragedy on various communities of people, highlighting the interconnectedness of their emotions and experiences.
After receiving news of President Kennedy’s assassination, the neighbors and families residing in Elena’s apartment building find solace in coming together. Elena observes that President Kennedy had taken on a saint-like status among the Puerto Rican and black families living in El Building, indicating a sense of religious reverence that binds them in the face of tragedy. Elena draws a parallel between this experience and her visit to Puerto Rico for her grandmother’s funeral, where religious rituals and observances served as coping mechanisms for the attendees. This comparison highlights the role of shared beliefs and practices in bringing communities together during times of loss and grief.
In the story’s conclusion, Elena faces rejection from Eugene’s mother, who is immersed in mourning for the president’s death. Taken aback by a young girl seeking to study with her son on such a significant day, Eugene’s mother assumes that Elena, her family, and the other residents of El Building lack sensitivity towards the national tragedy. Expressing disdain, she remarks, “I don’t know how you people do it,” asserting her perceived superiority over Elena and others like her. Through this incident, Ortiz Cofer’s story illustrates how even in the face of a large collective tragedy like an assassination, tragedy itself can create profound divisions and disunity among people.
American History | Title of the Story
The title, “American History” invokes the idea that the lives of ordinary individuals are an integral part of history, worthy of attention and study alongside the more traditionally recognized historical events. It emphasizes that the personal experiences and relationships of individuals also contribute to shaping the broader context of American history.
American History | Characters
Mr. DePalma, the physical education and science teacher, is portrayed as a disciplinarian and the go-to person for troublemakers at Elena’s school. Elena, along with her peers, views him with fear and some students even lose respect for him when he openly weeps after President Kennedy’s assassination. However, Mr. DePalma belittles his students and refers to them as ‘idiots’ and ‘losers’. Despite his emotional response to Kennedy’s death, he displays crude behavior such as spitting in front of the students and dismissing them from school with anger and frustration.
Elena, the story’s fourteen-year-old protagonist, feels like she doesn’t quite fit in at school, but she finds solace in playing with the African-American girls during recess. She wishes she had their fuller bodies and agility. Elena is determined to befriend Eugene, her new neighbor, and fantasizes about their interactions, drawing inspiration from an elderly Jewish couple she has observed. Although Elena is disappointed when Eugene’s mother doesn’t allow her into their house, she demonstrates resilience, as hinted by her watching the falling snow at the end of the story.
Elena’s mother is portrayed as an adult who tries to protect her daughter from heartache. She is attached to her Puerto Rican culture and dreams of returning to her homeland. In contrast, Elena has embraced American culture and seeks a different kind of life. Both Elena’s mother and Eugene’s mother dislike their current living situation and restrict their children’s interactions, although in different ways.
Eugene, Elena’s peer, and neighbor, remains a somewhat enigmatic character in the story. He has no dialogue, and readers only learn about him through Elena’s observations. He is shy, wears glasses, has a Southern accent, and comes from Georgia. Elena is infatuated with him, but there is uncertainty about his feelings towards her, especially considering his absence when Elena visits his house.
Eugene’s mother is described as otherworldly, dressed in white, and exhibiting a polite but cold demeanor. She conveys a sense of being trapped in a place she wants to forget, emphasizing that her family will soon be leaving, which discourages Eugene from forming attachments in the neighborhood or at school.
