East is East, and West is San Francisco, according to Californians. Californians are a race of people; they are not merely inhabitants of a State.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Californians identify more with their cultural identity than just being state residents, mixing East‑West references humorously.
- In plain terms
- Californians see themselves as a distinct race, not merely state dwellers.
- What can you take from it?
- Regional identity can feel like a cultural group.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does geography shape identity?
- When does regional pride become exclusionary?
Another view
Overgeneralizing a diverse population can be inaccurate.
More from O. Henry
A story with a moral appended is like the bill of a mosquito. It bores you, and then injects a stinging drop to irritate your conscience.
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