"For my parents , however, those symbols became taunts, reminders of all they could not achieve in one lifetime. For me those same symbols are reassuring reminders of public success. I tempt vulgarity to be reassured. I am filled with the gaudy delight, the monstrous grace of the nouveau riche" (Rodriguez, 147). The description in this passage transmits the message with descriptive detail that Rodriguez did not grow up with the same mind and way of thinking as did his generation, including his parents. One is born with many traits and genes, including hair color, eye color, skin color, how they act or how they react to things. These come from either the traits you are physically born with, or moreover, watching how your parents act. This is where most of us learn, from watching our parents and learning about their past. We try to relive the stories they tell us, and make it our own. .
"I tempt vulgarity to be reassured." In this passage, Rodriguez wants success, popularity to be reassured. He is not his father, the man who grew up as a lovebird and now sits in a chair as a grumpy man. In fact, he is the complete opposite. The vacations he took were a mockery to his parents, something they once had but lost. But for him it was newly developed, something different, change. As he registered at the Hotel Carlyle in New York, taking a vacation just as his father had years back, he was reminded of how far he had gotten. He had the wealth, success, and popularity. During this time however, the government was giving all attention and advantages to the minority. Anyone who was not a minority had difficulty applying for colleges now. Ironic, how everything changes so fast. When Richard was a little boy, being a minority was sort of a sin. Now, while everyone else was living in a crisis, he finally had recognition. Nevertheless, Richard still did not accept to be a minority, even with all the advantages.