The subject is also defined as the theme of a story. In Judith Ortiz Cofer's "American History," the subject revolves around what Elena does on the day of President Kennedy's assassination--November 22, 1963. The discussion of the story revolves around how Elena experiences prejudice at school and in her neighborhood during a time when the Civil Rights movement was in full swing. When news of the President's death gets to the school, the students were sent home. Many people in Elena's culture watched the news or went to church to pray. Elena did not do this. She had a study date with Eugene that she was determined to keep. Her mother warns her that she is headed for humiliation, but Elena goes anyway. To Elena's surprise, Eugene's mother turns her away for being Puerto Rican and impoverished. Because Elena is bullied for being Puerto Rican at school, and then rejected by Eugene's mother for who she is, the subject of the story revolves around dealing with prejudice in America.