Brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson was a book that I enjoyed reading. The whole book of poetry explained her life story. Strength and survival were one of the main themes that stuck out to me while reading. Woodson mentions how grateful she was for the things that her ancestors and immediate family have done for her to make sure she and siblings would have an easier life. She explains how her grandfather William Woodson was once the only brown boy in an all-white school in the poem “it’ll be scary sometimes”. “It’ll be scary sometimes. But think of William Woodson and you’ll be all right.” (35) This shows the reader how her mother warned her that she would soon encounter similar events – but she must remain strong through anything. “Don’t any of you ever do day work, she warns us. I’m doing it now, so you don’t have to” (71). This quote is from the poem “daywork” where she mentioned how her grandmother did daywork and would come home tired every evening but explained how it would pay off in the future for the children.
This book was based off of the 1800s-1900s, when segregation was a major issue and respect, played a huge role as well. A lot of people had to make sacrifices to travel where they wanted to go but be careful while doing so or they would be questioned or beaten. “So, she gets on the bus alone. The first year with one, the second year with two, and finally with three children, Hope and Dell hugging each leg and me in her arms. Always there is a fight before she leaves.” (46) That passage came from the poem “each winter” where Woodson describes the depths her mother went just to go back to her hometown South Carolina, where she also learns about the way they must respect the whites. “Step off the curb if a white person comes toward you don’t look them in the eye. Yes sir. No sir. My apologies.” (50) Though her mother loved going back home her father did not like the rules they had to follow in South Carolina, he felt as though they deserved to do as they please and not bow down to others.
While Woodson described these events that she witnessed in her life, at the end of the book she explains that it is our choice to choose where we end up in life. “Each day a new world opens itself up to you.” (320) Do you agree that it is our choice where we fall in life? I do.
You have some really good points in this post! To answer your question, yes, I agree that it is our choice where we fall in life. Yes, some have it easier than others- they're presented with more opportunities or they have more of an advantage from the get go but I think of it as you dont NEED training wheels to learn to ride a bike, theyre just a nice advantage to have. After all, its the overcoming stories that are most interesting to tell. At the end of a paintball fight, its no fun to be apart of the winning team with no battle scars. Imagine sitting back while everyone went showing off their welts (the struggles in life). Did you really win? I hope that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post and how you talked about some of the most important themes that Woods wrote about in her novel such as family ties and racism. The poem about her great grandfather Woodrow Woodson was my absolute favorite. The admiration and pride she felt was a beautiful thing to witness. I couldn’t imagine what her great grandfather must have felt like especially being in that time period.
ReplyDelete