Dorothy Allison once said, "Class, race, sexuality, gender and all other categories by which we categorize and dismiss each other and need to be excavated from the inside..." This means we always categorize people by race, sexuality, gender, etc. I agree because everywhere you look people are categorized. This can be clearly seen in the book The Big Shuffle like when Hallie goes to a frat party for people who are eighteen years or older only. Unless you had a fake ID. And she plays poker with some of the people who know how to play. And also the doctor at the hospital thinks Bernard, a family friend, is the brother and speaks to him first instead of Hallie, the daughter.

I Am

I am Hallie Palmer

I am intelligent and responsible

I wonder if things will get better

I hear sorrow

I want things to get better

I am intelligent and responsible

I pretend I am fine

I feel very stressed

I touch my aching head

I worry about my siblings

I cry for my parents

I am intelligent and responsible

I understand it is up to me

I say I can do it

I dream of a happy home

I try to keep things under control

I hope my mother gets well soon

I am intelligent and responsible

The Big Shuffle

The book I am reading is The Big Shuffle is about a girl named Hallie Palmer. Hallie is in college but has to return home to raise her eight younger siblings, because her father died and her mother is incapacitated. She is trying to be strong for her younger siblings. Her friend Bernard and Gil are helping her out as much as they can. But the house is still chaotic.