The Hate Race: Chapter 19 Summary & Analysis

Maxine recounts her experience with Bhagita, a Sikh Indian girl who also faces harassment at school due to her race and culture. Bhagita is lanky, awkward, and doesn’t shave her legs, but she has beautiful black hair that she wears in a neat plait, which Maxine envies. Bhagita also has an older sister, Ghurpita, who once proudly gave a long presentation about the Sikh religion; neither sisters seems shaken by their bullies. Maxine feels that, compared to the two sisters, she lacks poise and control. Maxine also wishes to have straight hair, so she saves up money to get micro braids from a Sierra Leonean stylist who imports polyester braids from Africa.

The braids turn out well, and Maxine receives admiration at school. Bhagita compliments her hair, but says she liked it better before and mentions how poor women in India will sometimes sell their hair to be made into extensions. This enrages Maxine, who tells Bhagita no one would want to buy her hair because it smells like curry. When class starts, she snips her scissors behind Bhagita’s head, telling Bhagita that she should cut her hair because “too much power is never a good thing.” Bhagita hurries out of class afterwards. Later, Maxine is horrified by what she’s done and tries to apologize to Bhagita, but Bhagita screams at her to get away and flees in fear. Maxine realizes that she’s become to Bhagita what her tormenters are to her, and she vomits.