The Lady in the Pink Mustang
What is the colorful car that represents both independence and escape for the woman in the poem?
What job does the speaker in the poem have?
A secretary
Where does the poem take place?
In the restaurant
Who wrote this poem?
Jimmy Santiago Baca
Q1
The Lady in the Pink Mustang
Why is the women driving away in the poem?
Freedom
What strange thing happens to the speaker’s body in the poem?
She turns into office objects
What is the mood or tone of the restaurant in the poem?
Chaotic and Confusing
What common social issue or misconception is challenged?
Racism
Q2
The Secretary Chant
What time of day does most of the poem take place in?
Night
What does turning into office objects symbolize?
Losing her individuality / Losing herself
The speaker’s tone throughout the poem could best be described as this.
humorous, surreal, or ironic
True or False: The speaker believes Mexicans are actually stealing jobs from Americans
False
Q3
The Restaurant Business
What group of people does Louise Erdrich often write about?
Native Americans
What is the poem criticizing about work?
It can dehumanize people or take away identity
What real-world issue does the poem make fun of?
How strange and stressful work life can be.
The poet uses this literary device to compare Mexicans to machines or animals, showing dehumanization.
Metaphor
Q4
So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans
What message does the ending of the poem show about freedom?
That freedom can be risky or come with a cost.
What bigger issue does this poem connect to for women in the workplace?
Inequality
What is the deeper message behind all the chaos in the poem?
Life can be absurd or hard to make sense of.
The poem ultimately argues that the real problem is not Mexican workers, but this larger force in society.
capitalism / exploitation / the economic system
Q5
The Lady in the Pink Mustang