Journal Prompt #1 - Week Three: Theme

I believe people having prejudice of minority groups is a reoccurring theme in the novel, The Flowers. Cloyd is a character in the book that exemplifies the racism that exists in present day America. This racism affects the lives of all the tenants living in The Flowers apartment complex. "You know what they say? They say they don't like black folk living in their nice apartment complexes, like they got some kind of right black folk don't. But they ain't got no right. They are blue-eyed-devil motherfuckers and fuck 'em." (190) Racism obviously impacts the life of Pink, a character that is an albino African American. Cloyd expresses his distaste of black people throughout the novel. He doesn't like the fact that Pink sells his cars exclusively to black people, thinking Pink is "working some angle" but doesn't figure out what that angle is. I found it very ironic that Cloyd openly dislikes black people so much and would never allow one to live in his apartment building, and is oblivious of the fact that Pink is African American. "'You wouldn't let them move in here, would you?' I didn't say I would,' Cloyd said. 'Fact I wouldn't'" (110) Pinkston knows Cloyd wouldn't allow him to continue living in The Flores if he found out about his albinism. I believe Pink is sort of sticking it to Cloyd by living in the apartments, and selling cars to African Americans, all while Cloyd believes he's just a really pale weird looking white male.
         Sonny is impacted by racism as well. I believe Cloyd is racist against Mexicans as well. Even though Cloyd is married to a Mexican woman, I believe he still has an underlying hate towards Mexicans and all other races. I think he is married to Silvia because she is a really attractive woman, and he likes her cooking, and the idea of being married to a Mexican must be sort of comical for him. "'Don't you love Mexican food?!' said Cloyd. 'Here I thought you only married her for her looks,' said Bud."(pg. 54) I think he feels like he is superior to people of other races, including Mexicans. He yells at Sonny on page 126 about addressing him as "man", and demands to be talked to in a more respectful manner. I don't think this has to do with Sonny showing disrespect to his elder or step-dad or whatever, but has to do with the underlying distaste Cloyd has of non-whites. "Don't ever talk to me like that again!" (pg. 126) He goes on to punching a hole through the wall like The Incredible Hulk. I believe Cloyd's true feelings come out when he's drunk. Cloyd owning an apartment building gives him the power to segregate whatever races he dislikes.
         There exists a lot of tension between Sonny and the other people he encounters on the streets. When Sonny and his friends are eating at a fast food place, there are two black dudes that pull up on them and stare them down. The twins don't realize whats going on, but Sonny is aware and prepared. Tension exists during this event, and later on when another two black males make fun of the twins about being Mexican.  I believe this tension is presented as a foreshadow of the events that happen later on in the novel and in history. I can identify this theme in the novel to symbolize the tension that had come about in Los Angeles and other cities across America during the early 90s. Tension that existed between African-Americans, Mexican-American,Whites, and Asian-Americans, and still exist till this day. I believe racial tension to be a central theme that is present in the novel.