Grace Paley’s “Travelling” is about the experience told in perspective of a young woman who has moved to a new place. The protagonist shares a story about her bus ride with her mother. In her story, her mother resists the discrimination which was present in her bus ride from New York. Her status of being a stranger towards the racist system enables her to resist what is considered as the “norm”.
It is interesting how despite the severe racial separation, the protagonist is able to form community by breaking this dividing wall. The protagonist shows consideration towards the lady with the baby and they form a community despite them having different skin colors. This community is formed by basic human kindness and empathy, rather than the sharing of similar appearance.
