In these few lines, both Dorta's feelings about the Irish are expressed as well as her opinion of her own Slovakian community. First, Dorta begins to reveal the nature of the capitalist system that she has become a part of. The Irish, at this time in Pittsburgh, held a higher socioeconomic position than the Slovaks, who had more recently established themselves in the area. Dorta basically explains to us that as more Slovaks settled, more Irish left, until eventually her nationality held the majority. The earlier parts of the novel demonstrate the injustices the Slovaks, or, as other groups referred to them, the "Hunkies," faced in part because of the prejudices of the Irish and other more socially-valued nationalities. Dorta extends to us a negative view of the Irish seemingly because of these injustices and the higher position which the Irish hold. Secondly, Dorta shares with us the high regard in which she holds her own group of people. Her identity seems to develop out of her nationality, her community. Kracha readily agrees with her, stating "We had good times. . .good times" (330). .
Dorta continues. Her point of view now changes from the past and the Irish to the present and her dealings with another nationality, African American. .
So it goes. It's too bad the niggers had to come. They never bother me, but some of my neighbors have moved, especially the ones with daughters. The men are always getting drunk and fighting, and you hear women screaming during the night. They all live together like so many animals. And so dirty! (330) .
"So it goes." With this statement, Dorta demonstrates that she views her situation as very natural. This remark also begins to express the helplessness that she feels in the system. Dorta has been successfully assimilated into the capitalist system. She has found her place on the social ladder. She holds a grudge against those above her, the Irish, for being above her and for expressing the same disgust of her and her nationality that she shows toward blacks.