That was a good read regarding DoA. My only gripe, and I'd have to go into the archives, is the one strip with the motorcycle helmet and her hair. I thought she wasnt so much ashamed about her hair but about sleeping with the tutor/TA guy whose name escapes me, and the whole "fwump" was being played as a gag because the hair didn't go crazy until after she got her test results back. Though the "fwump" of her hair may indicate just shame in general, as she is ashamed of her hair when its not straight for the reasons stated in the article, which I could totally see happening. I too noticed the whole parents not saying goodbye on parent day and it made me feel for Sal. The thing is we do not know how much of these racial issues Sal projects onto herself and have not been clued into any inkling of her parents true feels (if racially motivated I mean) of Sal at all. She is most definitely neglected for sure, but the real reasons have never been made clear by the parents themselves. The Walky comment in the first strip may be about how she views herself and he is merely explaining it, but then explains how he sees himself. Again great article with a lot of great critical analysist (especially the mirror strip!) but I can't help but feel like we (and Sal for that matter) are missing a huge piece of the puzzle regarding Sal and Walky's Parents true feelings about them in regards to race. For all we know it could boil down to something else entirely (they favor the boy because all they really wanted was a boy as a possible example, yet equally neglectful situation).