Racism within Song of Solomon

Not Doctor Street. What is wrong with this title? In the initial chapters of Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison explains that the black community voted to name the street "Doctor Street" because the only black doctor in the entire town lived there. During the mid-twentieth century (the time the novel takes place) black men and women would face discrimination, antagonism, and oppression. The first instance in which Morrison reveals this discrimination is through the title of a street. The surrounding white community wished to discredit the black doctor's success by changing the name of the street to Mains Avenue. It is evident that the women and men who live on this "Not Doctor Street" are the men and women who face racism in their everyday lives. For the doctor, he was faced with criticism and discrimination based on his skin color and was inhibited from practicing medicine at the local hospital. While his talents were extraordinary, his complexion degraded his chances of helping white people who were gravely ill. As the house was passed down to his daughters family, each character deals with racism in their own unique ways as the Doctor did several years prior. For instance, Macon's character represents racism in the black community. Macon strives to obtain status, wealth and respect by owning a business that controls several houses within the black community. By holding this position, Macon wishes to be seen as higher than those who surround him. In addition to Macon, Milkman too takes on the challenge of living during a time where racism was at an all-time high. Milkman, who was shielded for a majority of his childhood from discrimination, discovers through the words of Railroad Tommy all the things black men will never be able to do. Milkman's character at the age of twelve was exposed to this idea of racism through a laundry list of positions and titles he will never be able to achieve. While those are just two out of the five family members, it is clear that Morrison has each character exposed to racism and faces the challenges of discrimination, oppression, and antagonism in all sorts of ways -- both in the black and white communities.

The Evolution of a Relationship

Toni Morrison does an excellent job conveying the long-lasting relationship between Twyla and Roberta. When analyzing this short story overall, I find it quite interesting to view the evolution of their friendship. At a young age, it was evident that the two young girls had much in common, as Twyla and Roberta were the only two girls at St. Bonny’s whose mother’s were still alive. Although they arrived at St. Bonny’s for different reasons (One mother ill, the other always dancing), It is my own belief that this parallel united, particularly in an orphanage where the majority of children have lost a parent. As the two women grow older and set apart to develop their owns lives, it is intriguing to see the vast difference between the two character’s interactions. Who was once a best friend is now an acquaintance. At this time I believe that racial identity was a large portion of why they grew apart, particularly because in their young adulthood, racism was an everlasting problem that suppressed black people all across America. However, I also believe that in both Twyla’s and Roberta’s adolescent years, they both were shielded from this racial inequality, and when each woman discovered the real world, the author felt the need to show each woman's true colors. For Roberta, she felt superior to the world like the big girls in makeup. For Twyla, she was content with who she had become regardless of who she had become when with Roberta. I believe that the moment that Twyla and Roberta run into one another at the grocery store could parallel the times when they would be foolish together at St. Bonny’s. It is evident however that Twyla becomes increasingly uncomfortable because she recognizes that the relationship she has now is so far from what they had at St. Bonny’s. Both characters are aware of this growing apart, however, they still find their ways to see one another whether on good terms or bad. For these reasons, I believe Morrison wished to convey the theme that as societal norms evolve, relationships among friends, colleagues, or loved ones are too evolving, leaving both damage and hope between certain people.

Encounter at the Howard Johnson

It was particularly striking to myself as a reader, when I reached the scene where Roberta and Twyla interacted at the bus station outside the Howard Johnson. Throughout this short story, it is quite impressive how Toni Morrison chooses to not reveal the race of each character. However, upon analyzing this scene, however, it is my belief that Morrison implies Twyla to be the black woman. During this scene, when Twyla approaches Roberta after several years apart, it is evident that Roberta believes herself to be of a greater importance. Morrison highlights this idea when comparing Roberta to the big girls with the makeup of whom, as children, Twyla and Roberta characterized those girls as persons' of greater status. I find this to reflect the racial stereotypes of this time, in which white people thought that they were better than everyone else and were plainly superficial. Although Morrison never truly specifies which woman is which, I find it interesting that several years later when Twyla acknowledges Roberta's superficial attitude at the bus station, she merely responds by saying "it was a different time back then" implying that racial division and racism were clearly evident during this encounter. While Morrison leaves this interpretation up for discussion, I believe it is important to acknowledge how skillful a writer she is, since many do believe the opposite of my beliefs. I further believe this embodies the style of her writing, as it portrays that the past/ any scene of one's past can be reflected on differently for each and every person.

Responding to someone else's post

Please view Annie's post.

America's Imperfections

It is infrequent to read a novel that highlights the imperfections of America. Kingsolver's choice to represent America with a negative connotation was extremely bold, especially as an American author. I believe she chose to represent the Congo as real as it gets because she wants to show the stark contrast between the two countries.

American authors often glorify characters that are from their own country because they know much more about their own territory rather than a foreign place. I believe that Kingsolver did an incredible job at informing the reader of a place that one might have not known. She chose the American, Nathan Price, to be the "bad guy" to give a balance and entail that Americans do not always have to win the hearts of the reader. In essence, Americans are not always the hero's of a novel, and Kingsolver chose the outlet of the Price family missionary goals to provide an example. Further the author shines light on Eisenhower's presidency, and how the American system of legislature was imposing upon the ill-structured government in the Congo.  U.S. History textbooks for instance, may be bias and only show the strong attributes that the U.S. has accomplished, however, Kingsolver does not fear telling the reader the negative effects of American intrusion. I believe Kingsolver had a deeper purpose to tell the readers that the Congo has so many layers, both culturally and geographically. America's interference with this natural beauty can be harmful especially toward a place such as the Congo.

The Color Purple vs. Poisonwood Bible

Although drastically different novels, both The Color Purple and The Poisonwood Bible are told in the first person perspective of women. Alice Walker, author of the novel The Color Puple wrote the story in first person point of view, from the perspective of Celie, to showcase the life of an African American woman facing racism and sexism in the late twentieth century. The Color Purple, showcases Celie's struggle to finding her own identity, during a time where oppression and racism were at its high. I believe that Celie's struggle to find her own identity mirrors that of Orleanna in The Poisonwood Bible. Tragically, both women are beaten by mean who are believed to have a greater power over the women. In this way, both Orleanna and Celie believe that they are inferior, and both spend the entirety of each novel discovering themselves and overcoming life-changing obstacles along the way.

Although her identity is not suppressed due to race, Orleanna struggles to find her true identity because her husband has suppressed her true ability to discovering life. As Orleanna describes, she has "lost her wings" (201). Losing her wings, metaphorically, is inept to acting as she wishes, and fails to see the true beauty of the world because he husband forces his life upon her (shown when the Price family goes to the Congo because Nathan wishes to spread Christianity). Similarly, Celie is both beaten and raped by her “father” as a young woman, and fails to understand how to re-discover herself and trust someone of whom she fancies.

In this way, these two characters symbolize the oppression of women and how the novel is an outlet to describe the atrocities of each of their lives. The reader is able to hear both of their problems as well as accomplishments when evolving throughout both novels.