Da Hae Han
“Brown Girl Dreaming”
by Jacqueline Woodson
Category A, Prompt A
Racism
is one of the most significant themes in Jacqueline Woodson’s novel, “Brown
Girl Dreaming.” The set environment in which the primary adolescent character,
Jackie, develops into adulthood is in duration of the Civil Rights Movement.
Consequentially, it has a large impact on her, along with the many other
characters of the novel, as they attempt to find where they belong in the
world. There are multitudinous scenarios that are emblematic of this struggle.
In one particular instance, she depicts, even her own mother as one who is in
favor of changing as there are consequences for speaking in a southern manner. This
could be perceived, as the mother teaching them proper mannerisms through speech.
However personally, it is very clear by observing the mother’s treatment to her
children, that being or associating oneself as or with a southern, which is
seemingly what the characters originally identify as, is automatically a
negative thing. As a stark contrast, the northern ways are perceived as
something that is a lot better and something that should be desired for. This
is strongly portrayed through the mother’s actions, as it is evident that she
has a yearning to practice these northern ways and pushes these desires onto
her children. Henceforth, the main character is in a certain way, silenced by
this as even she states that she along with Dell become “afraid” to open their
mouths as a result of their mother’s punishment. Being silenced by her own
mother on top of the fact that she is already being silenced by her
passiveness, whether that be riding the bus at night, or the signs emblematic
of the segregation, makes it difficult for her to be comfortable within her own
voice, her own identity and heritage.
I really like your take on the silencing that Jackie's mother does. I noticed that difference in the southern versus northern ways, but I really think you did a great job to parce out Jackie's struggle in finding her own voice, identity, and heritage.
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that Jackie's mother is involved with the Civil Rights Movement--she goes to trainings and marches--but she still retains some of her mother's passivity. She, like her mother, still chooses to sit in the back of the bus rather than rifle any feathers, and she makes sure that her children appear like Northern, formally polite Black Americans rather than take on the Southern slang and informality. You are right to notice this as a type of silencing. It would be helpful to your argument to include some of the lines from Jacqueline's poetry that demonstrate this.