Category: Raymonds Run

Bambara believes that it is important to see beyond a person’s surface, and respect who. they are. Originally, Squeaky is perceived as selfish and never giving Raymond a chance. And assumes the role of caregiver for her brother Raymond because he has a mental disorder from hydrocephalus. While she loves and is protective of Raymond. Squeaky only sees him as disabled and somewhat of a burden, because “he’s not quite right” (Bambara, 38.) because her entire existence revolves around her running and winning the May Day race. Even though Raymond can keep up with his sister, she focused solely on the possibility that he will let his imagination cause him to run off. And fails to see Raymond’s potential as a runner. Instead, she keeps her brother on the inside of her when she trains to keep him safe and not interfere with her training “So I kept Raymond on the inside of me and he plays like he’s driving a stagecoach. Which is okay by me if he doesn’t run me over or interrupt my exercises, which I’m serious about my running. And don’t care no one knows it.” (Bambara, 40.)

And so long in the chapter she soon becomes more open and understand, she notices that Raymond is on the other part of the fence “bending down with his fingers on the ground simply like he knew what he was used to what he was doing.” (Bambara, 190.) As she runs, Squeaky glances over to watch her brother running fast on the sidelines. He runs in extraordinary style, with his fingers tucked up behind him, however, Squeaky sees that he has the potential to be a runner. She remembers that he usually catches up with her when she trots around the neighborhood.

When the race ends, Squeaky continues thinking of how she should give up her career as a runner to concentrate on teaching Raymond, rather than listening for the announcement of the winner. Because she already has a room full of trophies and ribbons, and Raymond has nothing, she thinks that she should help him get some recognition as a runner. Squeaky adjustments as she shifts her attention from herself to her brother. As she hears her name introduced as the winner, she is already focusing on Raymond’s future. Although Raymond was once no longer clearly in the race, this was once clearly his run.

When Squeaky realizes that triumphing is no longer everything, she sees Gretchen in a new light, and she realizes that others, such as Gretchen, are not necessarily hateful towards her. The theme of the story is finding your identity so that you can respect yourself and others.

“My family is my life, and everything else comes second as far as what’s important to me.” By John Wooden

The story “Raymond’s Run” was written by the author Toni Cade Bambara in New York in the season of May. The theme of “Raymond’s Run,’ is admiration and acceptance for the brother and rivalry between the teammates. The main character is Squeaky who eventually helps her mentally challenged brother, Raymond. As a result of Squeaky’ s life experiences, her life changed from a mean girl into a humble and compassionate girl.

First of all, Squeaky, in the story, thinks she is the best because she said she is the fastest thing on two feet so people can’t win against her. “I do not play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face…which is how I got the name Squeaky”. When she first appears in the story, Squeaky is a mean, all perfect, girl. When Squeaky sees someone in your face talking she will fight instead of listening. Then if things get too rough, she runs. “And as anybody can tell you, I’m the fastest thing on two feet…when I was a little kid in kindergarten.” Squeaky was implying that she is the fastest person in her team for track and field. Squeaky is saying that she is the fastest in the whole group in the track and field team and in the world.

In the race still thinks that she is the fastest thing and there is nothing stopping her to win first place. For Example in P.G.280 , “I’m mercury cause I’m the swiftest thing in the neighborhood…May Day because the track meet is the last thing on the program.” She thinks that being mean will get her the winning trophy. But if she is mad with anger, her head will not be cleared and she cannot win the race. Squeaky can’t win the race with a mind and her head somewhere else she has too had a clear mind and forget about everything “Well, Squeaky he says, checking my name off the list.. kids don’t know any better than to run off the track or run the wrong way or run smack into the fence and fall down and cry.” Raymond was happy for squeaky that she got 1st place in the race. She was so happy that he showed her big brother how practices makes perfect and that example is that she practice and she won the race.

Secondly , “I stand there with my new plans, laughing out loud by this time as Raymond jumps down from the fence and runs over with his teeth showing and his arms down to the side. I’m jumping up and down so glad to see him—my brother Raymond, a great runner in the family tradition.” “In the first place . . .” the man on the loudspeaker is clear as a bell now. But then he pauses and the loudspeaker starts to whine. : I almost stop to watch my brother Raymond on his first run. But the white ribbon is bouncing toward me and I tear past it, racing into the distance till my feet with a mind of their own start digging up fools of dirt and break me shortly. In the first place—” and then three or four voices get all mixed up on the loudspeaker and me dig my sneaker into the grass and stare at Gretchen who’s staring back, we both wondering just who did win.

Therefore , Then if things get too rough, I run. And as anybody can tell you, I’m the fastest thing on two feet. I take my time getting to the park on May Day. The track meet is the last thing on the program. “In the first place, the man on the loudspeaker is clear as a bell now. But then he pauses and the loudspeaker starts to whine. she shows the process of your changing her life from a mean girl into a humble nice girl for helping her brother to train him into a fast machine so he could get the trophy for him that he wanted.

‘Raymond’s Run’ by Toni Cade Bambara, is a short story narrated by Hazel Parker and is known as Squeaky in the story. When Squeaky was participating in the May Day celebration, where she won the most important game in her life. During the game, she saw Raymond running alongside the track, She got inspired by this action Raymond has made, this is the time when she decided to become his coach. This short story is about personal development and care.

The main theme in this short story is about identity. “We stand there with this big smile of respect between us. It’s about as real a smile as girls can do for each other, considering we don’t practice real smiling every day, you know, cause maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something honest and worthy of respect . . . you know . . . like being people.” This quote shows the development of Hazel throughout the story. In the beginning Hazel talks about she was been pick on by other girls about her and her brother, as she develops her personal identity, she eventually alleviates the previous unhappiness, and she realise the importance of respect others for their unique personalities. This short story makes me think about nowadays in the Senior classes, teacher began to encourage students to participate in a variety of social practice activities, to have an opportunity to try out some field that we no familiar with, which could develop personal interests. Nowadays, high school students are more likely inclined to social entertainment, but they forgot the importance of personal development. Before I read this short story, I was very confused about how could social practice activities related to the personal development. But after I had read this short story, I have realized if there were not May Day celebration for Hazel to compete, maybe Hazel would never realise she has overlooked he older brother as a unique person; maybe she was never able to become introspective; never find out she was a perseverance, caring person…etc. As a Senior student, one lesson I learnt from the short story was, participating social activities could build up my personal development and get to know myself in other ways. And the most important things I get to make new friends, just like how Hazel have compete the race, she not only finds out her identity, but also get to know a truly friend.

A main idea in this short story is about care. “ And I smile. We stand there with this big smile of respect between us. It’s about as real a smile as girls can do for each other, considering we don’t practice real smiling every day, you know, cause maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something honest and worthy of respect . . . you know . . . like being people.” This quote shows Hazel finally realise the importance showing care to the others, this refers to she realise her opinion on the smile of Gretchen has change, after the May celebration, Hazel realised the importance between people is to show you care about each other and respect. This short story makes a connection with me when I first came to New Zealand. It reminded me of my poor English 4 years ago. One thing I would never forget is the smile from my best friend when we first meet. After I read this short story, I’m finally realise the meaning in that smile between us, this has beyond language, this smile represents understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. It remined me of I have a teacher who never praises me, but when she comes to corrects my homework, my comment is always the most. This is my first time knowing that when you want to show care to other people you don’t have to say it verbally, you could do it by action.

Toni Cade Bambara’s short story is told through Hazel’s eye it makes the reader gets a closer connection with the main character. A lesson I learnt from the short story is to development personal opinion, which that could help you to solve some problems you are facing in life. And the main idea has a strong connecting to myself which inspires me from my previses personal experience .Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story, it makes me to think more positively and knowing how to show care towards others.