Woodson's Identity Developed in Brown Girl Dreaming

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I enjoyed reading Brown Girl Dreaming. I love history, so it was interesting to read Jacqueline Woodson's memoir that detailed her childhood through segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. I could tell that the history was a big influence on her reflections. An important piece of her story stems from the strength she gained through witnessing the Civil Rights Movement. Woodson recalls having Miss Bell as a mentor as she watches her feed the marchers. Her grandfather, another adult advocate in her life, says on page 73 "This is the way brown people have to fight....you can't just put your fist up. You have to insist on something. Walk toward a thing slowly". The strength of her role models during the Civil Rights Movement was a huge influence on Woodson's development. Wooden notices her role in the history at a young age, saying "so there's a war going on in South Carolina and even as we play and plant and preach and sleep, we are a part of it" (page 74). Woodson's identity is strong early on because she connects herself to the faith and persistence of the black community.

She also connects with Angela Davis later in the novel: "(Davis) raises her fist in the air says, Power to the people, looks out from the television directly into my eyes" (page 305). This is an important event because it further strengthens the bond Woodson feels to the black community. The courage and determination to continue to fight through hard times was portrayed by the Civil Rights activists, and Woodson's interactions with this movement helps her realize exactly who she is. The dangers for African-Americans living in the South during the Jim Crow era causes Woodson's family to stay close. They are a tight-knit group, and the grandparents are both very protective of Woodson and her siblings. The grandmother does not even want her playing with kids down the street. This strong sense of family also helps Woodson develop her identity, and it's clear to see how important family is to her.

I plan on teaching history and/or English, but this book could be a useful tool in either class. There are a lot of things to take away from the historical narrative, as it gives a first-hand reflection on how one family made it through the Civil Rights era.

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