52 pages • 1 hour read
A Place at the Table
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Symbols & Motifs
Citizenship Test Booklet
The Citizenship test booklet, which Mrs. Shainmark and Mrs. Hameed initially avoid, is a unifying object that connects them. Neither mother avoids studying because they lack the desire to become citizens. Instead, they face many outside challenges that prevent them from learning—Mrs. Hameed must focus on her business to make ends meet, while Mrs. Shainmark struggles with depressive episodes brought on by grief after her mother’s death. Alongside their independent struggles, the mothers share the collective challenge of learning a new history and culture as they grew up in different countries. The citizenship test booklet symbolizes the challenges immigrant families face as residents in their respective communities.
Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan create tension between the older immigrant generations and the native-born citizens of the newer generation. Sara and Elizabeth cannot understand why their mothers do not prioritize citizenship; the mothers do not understand why citizenship is significant to their daughters. This emulates the tensions in multi-generational immigrant families. The parents, as portrayed by Mrs. Shainmark and Mrs. Hameed, feel like acquiring citizenship means potentially sacrificing their identities, while the children, portrayed by Sara and Elizabeth, feel that their identities are separate.
Halwa Cuppa Tea Ice Cream
Sara and Elizabeth’s Halwa Cuppa Tea Ice Cream is a fusion creation for the international festival competition. It’s a dessert that combines prominent elements from their cultures, and symbolizes their friendship and collaboration. However, when they start taking shortcuts to make their ice cream stand out, it creates a rift in their relationship. The tension between their desire for a unique dessert and friendship is palpable. Ultimately, they realize that the true magic of their dessert lies in their hard work and collaboration. Only when they commit to these values does their dessert come together, highlighting the importance of cooperation to success.
Rather than focus on what makes her culturally unique, Elizabeth wants to focus on why she belongs in the US. Her and Sara’s attempt to make the s’mores paratha creates a sticky, inedible mess. Like the paratha, pursuing a wholly American concept is sticky. These dishes reflect how one should explore where they come from. The authors encourage their audience to examine and discover their backgrounds and bring what makes them unique to the table.
Stephanie’s Bakery Aprons
Stephanie Tolleson frequently wears aprons and other paraphernalia promoting her baking business. Though the logo inspires Sara to make a logo for Mrs. Hameed’s catering business, it also inspires envy. Sara sees Stephanie’s public approach to her business and believes Stephanie’s success to be unfounded. Similarly, Elizabeth believes Stephanie to be conceited because of her business and how easily Stephanie (in her mind) steals Maddy’s friendship.
Stephanie’s motivations for baking come to light and reveal that despite her outward appearance, her intentions are good. Through Stephanie, the authors explore the dangers of misplaced assumptions and biases.
Maddy reveals Stephanie’s kindness: Stephanie “does not keep any of the cupcake money”; instead, “[it] all goes to the NICU charity” (281). Elizabeth assumes the worst about Stephanie because Stephanie appears to have no flaws. Maddy’s revelation prompts Elizabeth to reevaluate her feelings, which is when she has a moment of self-growth. She realizes that appearances do not equate with character: “All the mad feelings about Steph dissolve. I realize I never looked past her blond ponytail and perfect smile” (281). Elizabeth makes surface-level assumptions about Stephanie—the same way Maddy’s father makes surface-level assumptions about non-white people. The authors suggest that bigotry happens in a multi-faceted way. They encourage their young audience to evaluate their interactions with everyone. They also encourage getting to know people rather than working from assumptions.
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