How would you feel if people judged you by the way you look or the way you perceive yourself? How would you feel if the reaction you got from others were racial comments? What if those racial comments or dirty looks were given by a family member? If any of these questions relate to you or you've actually been in that position, then I recommend that you read a novel called, A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris. This novel is about a girl named Rayona who faces the hardships in life for being half-Native American and half-African American. She was partly raised in an Indian reservation and other cities as well. Being in Rayona's position brings down her self confidence. Read the rest of the essay, and you'll understand why.
             Some of Rayona's family members put her in that type of position where the comments and dirty looks hurt her and break down her self confidence. For example, "His eyes measure and weigh, take me apart and put me back together. I wait for him to compliment my height, to say as he likes to do, that I take after him rather than Mom, who only comes up to my ear even in her highest heels. I expect he'll judge I'm too skinny. But he just shakes his head, half sad, half confirmed in some belief." (6)
             This shows that he doesn't really approve of how she's grown up to be, but doesn't want to say anything to hurt her. The way he looks at her does seem like he's breaking her self-esteem down piece by piece.
             Furthermore, "Foxy calls me "Buffalo Soldier," after the black men who were cavalry scouts and fought Indians a long time ago. He leaves a note stuck in the Africa section of my geography book." (47) Foxy dislikes Rayona for the fact that she's half black and likes teasing her about it. Not even thinking about the way she feels and what he's making her face everyday. Rayona doesn't have a
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