Monday, April 12, 2010

In the story Brownies, Laurel seems to be all three salient types in different ways. However, in the end she seems to be an emergent women. Throughout this story, she doesn't seem to have much control over how her friends treat troop 909, or how they treat her. She finds herself going along with her friends to be a part of the troop.

In the end, Laurel shares the story about the Amish family and discovers that there is a big problem in the world. This is an experience in her life that has caused her to open her eyes to existing problems. She seems to be disturbed by it and is on her way to becoming an emergent woman. In discovering the racism problems that exist in the world, Laurel now has the ability, as an emerging women, to make a difference through improved choices. She can now make a difference.
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1 comment:

  1. JeriApril 13, 2010 at 9:46 AM

    I would have to agree with Kade that Laurel becomes an emergent woman. It's funny how a nickname given to a child can stick for many years and become a stigma. In this short story, Packer recognizes different things about herself, her friends, and her culture that eventually will shape her life. Though she uses minimal black vernacular English through Janice, her intersectionality helps the reader to understand who her characters are and where they come from. Throughout this narrative we see Snot as the shy little girl lost in the background doing what she is told. However, through her voice we are able to watch her become Laurel.
    Though these young girls may not have experienced racism the same way as their parents, it's clear they have an understanding of the differences between white and black Americans. Arnetta's use of racial slurs towards her peers, "What are you caucasian?" tells the reader that she understands there is a difference between blacks and whites and in their place in society. Laurel reinforces this understanding with her story of the Mennonites she meets with her father and his attitude towards them. Through Packer's voice we are given a glimpse of the life of a little girl in the early 80s. Though many people would believe that by this decade prejudice was over and had been for many years, the wounds were still present and unhealed. She teaches the reader that there is still a ways to go before we are really past racialism. Packer has emerged from that timid black child to a Voice of Color.

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