Alfred and Mona believe that Alfred's dismissal was caused by racism: Alfred says, "Somebody's going to take the heat, it's gotta be the Negroes, right? Who else gets burnt up and keeps walking?" (p.219) while Mona, talking to Ralph, says "It doesn't matter so long as he is Chinese" (p.210).
Are the Changs racist? Is Alfred getting fired a result of racism and Chinese preference?
Ralph denies this, stating that a new cook "could be any color. 'He could be blue. He could be green. He could be striped like the zebra in the zoo.'" and affirms what Mona says, that "'It doesn't matter as long as you know you can trust him. It doesn't matter as long as you know who the person is.'" (p.210) Furthermore, he claims that the true reason is Alfred's inconsistencies: "Alfred is one day, he care very much what is happen in the restaurant. The next day, for no reason, look like he do not care anymore" "Unreliable like crazy" (p.210)
Is Ralph correct: is Alfred being laid off his own fault (or Mona's in partying with him)?
In summary, I would like to take a look at the racism passages, which are numerous and spread throughout the text, to analyze the Changs' outlook on other cultures and races.
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