The phrase "cities are divided into the distinct patches of an elaborate quilt" evokes the idea of cultural diversity and complexity within urban environments, suggesting that each community contributes its unique colors and patterns to the larger tapestry of city life. This metaphor highlights the coexistence of various ethnicities while also implying a lack of genuine integration, as the distinct patches remain separate rather than blending seamlessly into a singular whole.
Anna In-Betweenby Elizabeth NunezAmerica, the melting pot, and everywhere cities are divided into the distinct patches of an elaborate quilt. From the center the colors fan out, black turning to shades of brown, café au lait, then white as the colors reach the suburbs.What is it? What is it that makes the island of her birth so different, so truly cosmopolitan? For if geography were all, if that were all it took to explain her island, to explain Ranjit Ramdoolal, Paul Bishop, Neil Lee Pak, and the many bloods that run through her parents’ veins, then Manhattan, itself a tiny island, connected by bridges to the rest of America and to the world by an ocean, should be a true melting pot.
In 1–2 sentences, analyze the use of the phrase "cities are divided into the distinct patches of an elaborate quilt" in this text.
1 answer