Reflection on “Traveling” by Grace Paley

Grace Paley’s “Traveling” is a memoir about encountering segregation for the first time. In her trip, Paley is no more than a stranger, portraying the perspective of an outside visitor. A stranger such as herself may have an easier time rejecting social constructs, such as segregation, as no one knows who she is. Additionally, her identity is disguised as one can only distinguish her skin tone. Therefore, her status as a stranger acted as a gateway to resisting the injustices of segregation.

“Traveling” introduced me to a new perspective that I haven’t previously considered. Paley suggests the underlying theme of lack of identity, and how it can be just as powerful as a profound identity when considering one’s ability in making a societal impact.

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