Racism

Racism is highly prevalent in the futuristic setting of Chan’s novel. Frida often thinks about race and contemplates how to use her pale skin color to her advantage.

To begin, Frida hopes colorism will work in her favor for the trial: “She didn’t want to be crass about it, but the judge probably won’t see Frida as a person of color. She isn’t Black or brown. She’s not Vietnamese or Cambodian. She’s not poor. Most of the judges are white, and white judges tend to give white mothers the benefit of the doubt, and Frida is pale enough” (64). Frida knows that white people are treated more leniently by the law than people of color. Frida hopes that her pale skin coupled with her upper-class status will be enough to save her. Although Frida’s skin color does not sway the...