This passage by McBride is located near the very end of the chapter, where most ideas in memoirs tend to end on a particular note and elude to a personal lesson that the author has taken upon themselves to apply to their daily lives. Regarding the context of this passage, it is specifically located after a scene in the chapter where his son is curious about the racial difference between his Jewish grandmother and himself. McBride then imposes on his son that “God made her that way,” which is a simple, answer for his 4-year old son to comprehend. The passage appears after this short scene because his explanation leads him to the realization that he cannot prove his ethnicity to others, or by participating in such an action is pointless and will …show more content…
It is important to remember that math symbolizes education as a whole in this passage, rather than a set of random equations. McBride’s parents always told him to focus on his studies and as long as he stayed true to this command, his life should treat him well. They wanted the best for all of their children; therefore it was appropriate to lay down essential rules in the household. Two scenes that correspond to this idea of education and discipline are also documented in the middle of the chapter. In the first scene, McBride’s mother insisted that he should keep his thoughts private and “educate his mind,” after his countless inquiries of his racial identity as a child. In the next scene, McBride asks his Jewish mother which box he needs to mark off to report his race at school. “Don’t check nothing,” was his mother’s response, because all that mattered was his academic success. The importance of receiving a quality education and being disciplined enough to stay in school reigned true in McBride’s life. However, math and discipline on McBride’s simple list amounts to more than just dictionary definitions. They are both mentioned in the passage to promote the idea of knowledge and using it to take control of a situation in a responsible