Even though the laws have changed
my grandmother still takes us
to the back of the bus when we go downtown
in the rain. It’s
easier, my grandmother says,
than having white
folks look at me like I’m dirt.
But we aren’t dirt. We are people
paying the same fare as other people.
When I say this to my grandmother,
she nods, says, Easier
to stay where you belong.
I look around and see the ones
who walk straight to the back. See
the ones who take a seat up front, daring
anyone to make them move. And know
this is who I want to be. Not scared
like that. Brave
like that.
(Page 237)
Racism and civil
rights issues were prominent themes throughout Jaqueline Woodson’s novel, Brown Girl Dreaming. These themes become
more prominent in the novel as Jackie grows older and truly recognizes their effect
on her life. From birth, Jackie’s life was influenced by racism and she was
surrounded by civil rights issues. Her everyday life encounters with racism clearly
shaped her beliefs and identity. In this particular passage, we get an idea of
Jackie forming a strong identity as a young girl.
In the beginning
of the passage, Jackie notes that the laws have changed. However, her
grandmother continues to follow the old laws. While they are not laws anymore,
they are “social laws.” Jackie and her siblings must have look confused,
because her grandmother feels the need to verbally explain her actions to them.
Even before reading the rest of the poem, the reader gets the feeling that
Jackie is disappointed in her grandmother.
Woods continues
on to write “But we aren’t dirt. We are people paying the same fare as other
people.” This line stands truly stands out. Jackie becomes unsettled and frustrated
when the adults in her life are unwilling to challenge the social rules that are
in place. She knows that the rules are wrong, and she feels that something
needs to be done about it. When she points out to her grandmother that they are
just as good as anyone else riding the bus, her grandmother tells her it’s “easier
to stay where you belong.” Jackie is clearly not okay with this response.
It seems that
Jackie’s thoughts following her grandmothers comment became so important to who
she is now. She takes a look around the bus and notices the Black people like
her grandmother, who move to the back of the bus. Then she looks to the ones up
front, who she describes as “daring.” While she is disappointed in her
grandmother’s fear, she finds inspiration from the people who fearlessly sit at
the front of the bus. This observation is clearly important to her because she
continues on to state, “and [I] know this is who I want to be.” She decides
that she doesn’t want to be scared like her grandmother. She wants to be “brave
like that.”
This passage
clearly demonstrates how the themes of racism and civil rights are so prominent
in Woodson’s novel and her life. This is just one incident of the many that
Jackie experienced growing up. However, this one incident seems to have deeply affected
her personal views and attitude towards civil rights.
Christina Bonfanti
Hi Christina,
ReplyDeleteI like the distinction you make between laws and social customs in this passage. So, even though it is the law that they can sit wherever they'd like, the grandmother prefers to follow the customs because she knows it will invite white ire if they break this tradition. I think your analysis can be more specific when speaking of the theme. This passage doesn't just embody racism and civil rights, but something very specific about these ideas. For example, you bring up the idea of law vs. social rules, and there is also the notion of there being a difference between Black actions in the South and the North that we get repeatedly throughout the collection. The grandmother qualifies her submission to the customs by appealing to the South as a different entity than the North; though Jackie notes that the North was not quite the land of sparkling diamond sidewalks she was promised either.