Schedule Update

After some deliberation, I've made some decisions about the remaining schedule:

• On Thursday, we will discuss postcolonial theory as planned. Please make sure to read the chapter in Critical Theory Today. I will also be scheduling conferences and saying some things about your presentations.
• On Tuesday (4/20), I will be meeting with students individually in my office while there is a peer review happening in the classroom. I will also have conference times available on Monday (4/19) and Wednesday (4/21). The peer review is optional, but it is strongly recommended. Even if you are conferencing with me on that day, that conference will only last for 10 minutes. You can still participate in peer review.
• I am cancelling the discussion of Unaccustomed Earth. It is a long story, and I don't want to overburden you over these last several class periods. But do please read it when you get a chance. It is really worth your time.
• The final paper is now due at the time of your presentation. This means that your paper will be handed in on either 4/22 or 4/27.
• I have posted a revised schedule to the documents site. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Battle of Intersectionality

In all that is portrayed through Laurel's eyes, it seems Arnetta has been raised to believe so thoroughly that she is inferior to no one. I'm not sure we're given enough information to know if Arnetta acts out in intra-racial racism, being the 'top dog' among peers of her own color. Regardless, it is obvious that she is the leader and will put down anyone and anything to keep her reign as the superior. And since these girls live in a place in Atlanta that is so secluded and sheltered from white people, the exact opposite of internalized racism seems to have grown inside Arnetta's soul. I would imagine her parents fought long and hard for equality, thereby instilling in their daughter the belief that blacks deserve to be 'on top' and she should do everything in her power to ensure that.

I believe Packer made Troop 909 a special needs group to make it evident that Arnetta was lying in order to exercise her believed power over the white girls. The mere possibility that Arnetta is telling the truth is squashed when we read one of the girl's response, "That's a BAD word! We don't say BAD words!" (23). Troop 909 has been taught to be kind and generous, and to use social graces - despite race or any other differences. We see this exemplified when Laurel narrates, "My restroom group had passed by some of the 909 girls. For the most part, they deferred to us, waving us into the restrooms, letting us go even though they'd gotten there first" (7).

This experience, coupled with Laurel's remembrance of her father and the Mennonite family stir up questions about what race really means in the world. She becomes truly aware that there is "something mean in the world [she] could not stop" (31). This sense of awakening allows Laurel to start on a new path as an "emergent woman" - 'creating a new life and new choices for herself' (Tyson, 390). And I just have to say, the tender interaction between Daphne and Laurel is a beautiful tale of friendship, change, and growing up.

Color

One thing in particular that I found interesting within the text of "Brownies" was the double vision that the author portrays the characters to have. The feeling of "belonging to two conflicting cultures" (Tyson 362) is prevalent--especially with how these girls see the world vs. their own, even within just the girls camp. Just how Tyson describes in the chapter, as well as what we touched on in class, we (as white people) do not see things like they do--we have the granted white privilege and are not subject to having to think about all the numerous things a minority might have to encounter. Even within the beginning of the text the word choice picks up subtle hints that show us the perspective of living in a "colored life." The first two paragraphs clearly illustrate these points, examples such as: how the Brownie troop (color brown obviously) depicts the troop 909 (strawberry, vanilla, etc.) and the "washed out rainbows" (having no color--in contrast to them) and then how they (the brownie troop) see the world as the walk their way down the trail seeing it as very "colorful." Throughout the story the author uses these factors, and others, to show how the mind and perception of the world is different in all eyes--even if we say we are all equal.

Brownies

Tyson poses the question "What can the work teach us about the specifics of African heritage, African American culture and experience, and/or African American history?" (p. 394). "Brownies" illustrates the marginalization of the black girls in this story and the prejudice they have felt directed at them because of their race. Immediately upon seeing the "caucasians" they decide to beat them up, claiming the white girls called them "niggers". The very presence of these white girls makes their skin crawl with anger. This shows the hatred they have felt in their own lives from other cultures, particularly white people (look at their history - specifically slavery in America). As I looked through the terms in the book, Internalized racism stood out to me. The definition is "the psychological programming by which a racist society indoctrinates people of color to believe in white superiority". Although these girls are fiercely fighting against this idea, it is clear that their ideas and perceptions of the white girls has been impacted by culture. The view the girls "real and memorable, with their long, shampoo-commercial hair". They view them as elite "white girls and their mothers coo-cooing over dresses" in Rich's clothing store and they have seen white business men swish by "importantly". These girls are viewed as "ponytailed and full of energy, bubbling over with love and money." The society they live in has told them they are the lesser of the two cultures and the very fact that they fight against these white girls and their "long spaghetti straight hair" tells that they truly do believe in a white superiority. The hegemony, or dominance of the whites, is evident to these young girls.

Brownies

Arnetta and Octavia are interesting characters in the story "Brownies" I was surprised at the hatred that was so deep inside them both, not only for whites but for their own race. They are demeaning and hurtful to girls within their own troop. Of course Laurel would make the statement, "No one talked about fighting. Everyone was afraid enough just walking through the infinite deep woods. Even though I did’t fight to fight, was afraid of fighting, I felt I was part of the rest of the troop, like I was defending something. We trudged against the slight incline of the path, Arnetta leading the way."
She made this statement because even though she and the other girls didn't want to fight, at least they felt wanted and apart of something for a change rather than being made fun of.

The idea that when you have been wronged you wrong others is such an interesting idea that has been put in these young girls minds. The troop leader as they said would have stopped the girls and told them to do good unto others.. so where did this hatred and idea of righting the wrongs that the "whites" or others come from? Most likely their parents... who sure probably deserve to say those things... they were wronged and hurt themselves... but when does it end?? I mean they were going to try and kick the asses of mentally disabled girls!! If for one second they stopped to look at who these girls were from troop 909 rather than their skin things would have been different?

Why is it that justice is served with vengence. society has taken something from us whether we are white, black, red, blue... whatever.. that is what Daphene ends the story with "Just to be nice."

"Borwnies"

In my opinion, none of the girls from troop 909 ever said the word they were acused of saying. These girls live in a cultural hegemony, where white America is dominant. Although they live in Atlanta where Laurel compares seeing a white person to seeing a baby pigeon, they are still aware of this hegemony. Since they are aware of it but never around it, the arrival of a troop of white girls will automatically raise defenses. For all the reader knows, this is the first real interraction the girls have had with girls from the society that they know is priveledged. Being at the camp puts both troops on equal ground, and I think girls like Arnetta and Octavia, who are used to being dominant and in control, are going to do whatever they can to prove they are superior. I doubt that any of the 909 girls made such a comment. The girls were just looking for it so they could fight and show who is really the toughest.

I also find it interesting that even though there is a girl with the echolalic disability, which would have been an easy out for the accusing girls, Arnetta still claims it was another girl. But she blames the girl that is the smallest of the bunch. She seems to be trying to pick on the "weakest" of the bunch, which is exactly what she does with the girls in her own troop, like Janice, Laurel and Daphne.