^I think when Mr.Martin (Tom's dad), saw Bridgett, he thought that was Denyse. I geuss he didn't expect her to be with her, because maybe his dad was used to seeing him with girls like Sarah. So fake, and girly. And not so athletic, and down-to-earth like Denyse.
Or maybe, because Tom's dad never knew Denyse lived a few streets down their house. And when they turned on Plowshare (name of the street), to pick them up, he was suprised, because they said the Smith's family was the only black family on Plowshare.
Very good question Claire! You had me thinking long and hard about it! So here it is...I think that tom's dad was hesitant when he saw denyse, because maybe he isnt used to seeing his son hanging out with colored people, or maybe it's because his dad is prejudice but he dosnt want his son to know or to hang out with her or even be in the same car as her too. But I also agree with Claire when she said "his dad was used to seeing him with girls like Sarah. So fake, and girly." thats what I think Claire :)
I agree with what Claire had said as well Amy! “his dad was used to seeing him with girls like Sarah. So fake, and girly." Like Steve’s interest in girls like Kim and other girls like that, Thomas’s father probably thought that Thomas would follow the same interest in girls. When Thomas described Denyse people who didn’t know her probably would think she was like Bridget! However to Thomas’s father’s surprise, he found a down to earth and black girl like Claire said. I think that he did know that Thomas was hanging out with someone special I just think he didn’t think it was a girl like Denyse.
Perhaps her being in the only black family on plowshare didn’t occur to Thomas’s father. He may have never seen a black family near them and thought that there was only white people living there. So coming up to pick up Denyse and Bridget just to find a girl that he thought was Denyse and a girl with a different look than what he thought was a surprise to him! That’s why I think he hesitated. He probably had no idea that Denyse was black.
When you hear about someone the first question you ask wouldn’t be “Are they white or black?” you would want to know about who they are and what they do. Thomas’s father was just shocked to see a black girl and not a girl like Bridget who he thought Thomas would be into.
I think what Amy said about Thomas’s father being prejudice could be a possibility. But when Thomas was driving with his Mother and made a comment about “Those kinds of people.” She seemed very defensive about Denyse being black. Thomas was only making a comment about her being the in seventh grade but Thomas’s Mother was very sensitive about racism coming from Thomas. Thomas’s mother doesn’t seem to have a prejudice so Thomas’s Father may not have one either. But this is a very good point that she made!
I think Toms dad hesitated when he saw Denyse because of her colour. I think he could of been worried about problems in the future for Tom. I think since Denyse’s family is the only black family around, he could of been shocked of Denyse’s colour. I think that if I were in that position (Tom’s dad’s) I probably would have been shocked to. I think maybe Tom’s dad doesn’t like coloured people and doesn’t want Tom to know or be mad at him. I think Toms dad also could have been shocked that Tom was friends with / liked her because she doesn’t seem like Toms type ( because he liked Sarah who was white and blonde)and Denyse is coloured and has dark hair
I think Toms dad hesitated when he saw Denyse because of her colour. I think he could of been worried about problems in the future for Tom. I think since Denyse’s family is the only black family around, he could of been shocked of Denyse’s colour. I think that if I were in that position (Tom’s dad’s) I probably would have been shocked to. I think maybe Tom’s dad doesn’t like coloured people and doesn’t want Tom to know or be mad at him. I think Toms dad also could have been shocked that Tom was friends with / liked her because she doesn’t seem like Toms type ( because he liked Sarah who was white and blonde)and Denyse is coloured and has dark hair
"There's Denyse," I said as she followed Bridget down the driveway. "That's Denyse?" my father asked. "Yeah," Steve said. "She's pretty too." "Yes... yes she is," my father said, but with alittle hesitaion.
My question for you is... Why do you think Tom's dad hesitated when he saw Denyse? When he saw Bridget, he automatically complimented her, saying she was pretty. But when Steve stated, that Denyse was also pretty, Tom's dad took alittle more time to agree with them.
I hope you understand the question, and tell me what you think Jenna!
@Amy - Perhaps she left out that Denyse was black because it could not have mattered to her. I said before that the first thing you ask about someone isn't usually what colour their skin is, so maybe that's what Thomas's mother thought. She thought that it wasn't important that Denyse was black and that all that mattered was that Thomas had a new friend. She may have assumed Thomas's father would be okay with her being black.
I think tom's dad hesitated when he saw denyse because maybe Tom's dad thought that Tom wouldn't like a girl like Denyse and when he thought Bridget was pretty when he saw Denyse he was alittle surprized. I now understand the question. Thanks
@SamV - I totally agree with you Sam! And it's true, it really doesn't matter about the skin colour, it matters of what's inside. When Tom's mom first met Denyse, she was very polite, and sort of quiet. But maybe when Tom's dad gets to know Denyse better, he'll accept the fact that Tom can like other girls then girly ones.
I agree with Claire, maybe it wasn't a racial thing maybe it was because he didn't know that Denyse was going with them. He didn't know that Denyse was the type that Tom liked. In type i mean the athletic, nice , sweet. Tom's father was used the opposite of Denyse; girly-girl, non-athletic, never worked a day in their life and so sensitive. Or just like everyone else Tom's dad doesn't approve the thought of Denyse hanging out with Tom. He probably has already heard of Denyse's family being the only black family in Plowshare , and the stereo-type of the black family loving basketball.
^I think when Mr.Martin (Tom's dad), saw Bridgett, he thought that was Denyse. I geuss he didn't expect her to be with her, because maybe his dad was used to seeing him with girls like Sarah. So fake, and girly. And not so athletic, and down-to-earth like Denyse.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe, because Tom's dad never knew Denyse lived a few streets down their house. And when they turned on Plowshare (name of the street), to pick them up, he was suprised, because they said the Smith's family was the only black family on Plowshare.
So tell me what you think!
-Claire
Very good question Claire! You had me thinking long and hard about it! So here it is...I think that tom's dad was hesitant when he saw denyse, because maybe he isnt used to seeing his son hanging out with colored people, or maybe it's because his dad is prejudice but he dosnt want his son to know or to hang out with her or even be in the same car as her too. But I also agree with Claire when she said "his dad was used to seeing him with girls like Sarah. So fake, and girly." thats what I think Claire :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Claire had said as well Amy! “his dad was used to seeing him with girls like Sarah. So fake, and girly." Like Steve’s interest in girls like Kim and other girls like that, Thomas’s father probably thought that Thomas would follow the same interest in girls. When Thomas described Denyse people who didn’t know her probably would think she was like Bridget! However to Thomas’s father’s surprise, he found a down to earth and black girl like Claire said. I think that he did know that Thomas was hanging out with someone special I just think he didn’t think it was a girl like Denyse.
ReplyDeletePerhaps her being in the only black family on plowshare didn’t occur to Thomas’s father. He may have never seen a black family near them and thought that there was only white people living there. So coming up to pick up Denyse and Bridget just to find a girl that he thought was Denyse and a girl with a different look than what he thought was a surprise to him! That’s why I think he hesitated. He probably had no idea that Denyse was black.
When you hear about someone the first question you ask wouldn’t be “Are they white or black?” you would want to know about who they are and what they do. Thomas’s father was just shocked to see a black girl and not a girl like Bridget who he thought Thomas would be into.
I think what Amy said about Thomas’s father being prejudice could be a possibility. But when Thomas was driving with his Mother and made a comment about “Those kinds of people.” She seemed very defensive about Denyse being black. Thomas was only making a comment about her being the in seventh grade but Thomas’s Mother was very sensitive about racism coming from Thomas. Thomas’s mother doesn’t seem to have a prejudice so Thomas’s Father may not have one either. But this is a very good point that she made!
I think Toms dad hesitated when he saw Denyse because of her colour. I think he could of been worried about problems in the future for Tom. I think since Denyse’s family is the only black family around, he could of been shocked of Denyse’s colour. I think that if I were in that position (Tom’s dad’s) I probably would have been shocked to. I think maybe Tom’s dad doesn’t like coloured people and doesn’t want Tom to know or be mad at him. I think Toms dad also could have been shocked that Tom was friends with / liked her because she doesn’t seem like Toms type ( because he liked Sarah who was white and blonde)and Denyse is coloured and has dark hair
ReplyDeleteI think Toms dad hesitated when he saw Denyse because of her colour. I think he could of been worried about problems in the future for Tom. I think since Denyse’s family is the only black family around, he could of been shocked of Denyse’s colour. I think that if I were in that position (Tom’s dad’s) I probably would have been shocked to. I think maybe Tom’s dad doesn’t like coloured people and doesn’t want Tom to know or be mad at him. I think Toms dad also could have been shocked that Tom was friends with / liked her because she doesn’t seem like Toms type ( because he liked Sarah who was white and blonde)and Denyse is coloured and has dark hair
ReplyDeleteClaire I don't fully understand the question, can you explain it a bit more please. Thanks!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all your comments but I have a question:
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that Tom's mother left out that she was black?
^Sorry about that Jenna!
ReplyDeleteLet me quote the book. Chapter nine, page 93.
"There's Denyse," I said as she followed Bridget down the driveway.
"That's Denyse?" my father asked.
"Yeah," Steve said. "She's pretty too."
"Yes... yes she is," my father said, but with alittle hesitaion.
My question for you is...
Why do you think Tom's dad hesitated when he saw Denyse? When he saw Bridget, he automatically complimented her, saying she was pretty. But when Steve stated, that Denyse was also pretty, Tom's dad took alittle more time to agree with them.
I hope you understand the question, and tell me what you think Jenna!
-Claire
@Amy - Perhaps she left out that Denyse was black because it could not have mattered to her. I said before that the first thing you ask about someone isn't usually what colour their skin is, so maybe that's what Thomas's mother thought. She thought that it wasn't important that Denyse was black and that all that mattered was that Thomas had a new friend. She may have assumed Thomas's father would be okay with her being black.
ReplyDeleteI think tom's dad hesitated when he saw denyse because maybe Tom's dad thought that Tom wouldn't like a girl like Denyse and when he thought Bridget was pretty when he saw Denyse he was alittle surprized. I now understand the question. Thanks
ReplyDelete@SamV - I totally agree with you Sam! And it's true, it really doesn't matter about the skin colour, it matters of what's inside. When Tom's mom first met Denyse, she was very polite, and sort of quiet. But maybe when Tom's dad gets to know Denyse better, he'll accept the fact that Tom can like other girls then girly ones.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Claire, maybe it wasn't a racial thing maybe it was because he didn't know that Denyse was going with them. He didn't know that Denyse was the type that Tom liked. In type i mean the athletic, nice , sweet. Tom's father was used the opposite of Denyse; girly-girl, non-athletic, never worked a day in their life and so sensitive.
ReplyDeleteOr just like everyone else Tom's dad doesn't approve the thought of Denyse hanging out with Tom. He probably has already heard of Denyse's family being the only black family in Plowshare , and the stereo-type of the black family loving basketball.