M&Ms in a Trail Mix

The other day in class we read Alice Walker's "Everyday Uses", a powerful story set during the Civil Rights movement. She addresses the importance of recognizing one's heritage. I had the students discuss and write about their own heritage, knowing this would be a sensitive and challenging task for these missionary kids, and being that they have lived in so many places and have trouble identifying their own heritage.

But I wanted them to dig deep and think about it. During our discussion one student saids, "We are like the M&Ms in a trail mix." This cleverly describes how sometimes these kids feel about heritage. They are a mix of so many heritages...blood and adopted. But they are like m&ms....just part of a mix....but a good mix! M&Ms are the best part.