One race, the human race…” This powerful quote from Silko’s, “Fences Against Freedom” (100), speaks the importance of equality to me. This goes along with a couple of the common themes in the readings for today such as freedom and pride. Which lead to the more conflicting themes of ignorance and misunderstanding that come along with the strong use of borders, both physical and conceptual.

Borders are what really held my attention throughout these stories. These borders were used to restrict the freedom and identity of Native Americans. Many of these borders weren’t physical, but still segregated Native Americans. Silko used an example of how her great grandfather was asked by to come in the back door when trying to go into a hotel café with his sons, who were part Native (105). Although there was no actual barricade keeping Native Americans out, there freedom was still being affected. Silko also incorporates physical borders such as the “steel wall” being built along the border between the United States and Mexico. She emphasized the border patrol along this line, and how quick they were to target people of color whether or not there was probable cause. She shares her many first hand encounters with the border control, revealing how rude and ignorant they were.

King’s story “Borders” goes along with the theme of borders. The mother in his story is persistent with the US/Canada border the she is neither from America or Canada, but that she’s Blackfoot. The officers at the border fail to recognize and respect the borders of her people. This brings in the theme of identity and pride. She refuses to settle with them because she is proud of who she is and her