Thursday, March 6, 2008
White Lies
When I first read the title, my intial impression was that the poem would be about telling lies. My impression was half right but the poem took on a whole new meaning. It deals with racial labels in our society. A black child who had extremely light skin, "light-bright, near-white.....in a black place." It tells of how she could pretend that she was apart of the white society "[living] uptown." Basically, she had to tell lies in order for people to accept her into their groups in society. This classic tale explains a social tendency that prompts that image is everything. Especially, when it comes to the color of your skin, society feels compelled to place you in a certain group or class just based on that, without getting to know the actual person who inhabits that skin. Specifically, it points out society's troubles with allowing blacks equal treatment but it can also be read at a larger level that deals with all society members... if we don't dress a certain way, or own a certain material item, or go to certain places. We are a soceity that preaches individuality but practices conformity. Its just someting that makes me cringe. I wish it could all be stopped but the only way to beat it is to realize that it doesn't matter. All you have to do is realize that you are who you are and the only way you change is if you let people change you. I am not saying that change is always a bad thing, there are concrete, dire instances when it is neccessary but when you are ostrasized just because the color of your skin or because your family doesn't make as much money as the next.... that's when it is too far. This lesson is one that the mother is trying to teach at the end of the poem with the soap. Noone should have to lie about themselves. In the end, it is the best route to accept who you are and be proud of it. The people that truly care about you will always remain.
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Hey Heather! Thats so funny, when I read the title, I also thought it was going to be about a person telling "little white lies". However, that is not the case. In order for this young girl to fit into her society, she must tell these "white lies", which I think is very depressing. It also shows how our society hasn't really evolved throughout the years. Another thing, is that while reading, I didn't think about the "image is everything" senario which is a really good point. I also think that its horrible how people strive for individuality but result in conformity. But, if you think about it, at one point in our lives we are all guilty of acting in this manner, so therefore who are we to judge others? I also agree with you about how you should never have to lie about who you are, and if you are you should probably stop. Because the people that truely care will accept you no matter the circumstances, and if they don't you probably shouldn't be hanging around them in the first place. Overall, I thought that you grasped the poem really well and you did a really good job at analyzing it! You also brought a lot of good points to my attention that I didn't catch while reading Good Job :)
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