Summary of the novel
Brown Girl Dreaming is a novel written in free verse by Jacqueline Woodson. In her story, the author describes her childhood and adolescence through beautifully written poems. Jacqueline’s story begins with her growing up in Ohio with her mother and father, who are African American. She then describes how her mother misses her home in South Carolina and eventually leaves her husband in order to go back. She takes all of her children and they move back to live in South Carolina with her parents in the house that her mother grew up in. While she lives in her grandparent’s house, Jacqueline feels affection for her family and loves being in Southern Carolina. Her grandmother influences Jacqueline and her siblings to be religious and they work as recruiters for the Jehovah’s Witness religious group.
The main character of this story has an older sister named Odella and an older brother named Hope. Later in the story her mother has another child, the youngest sibling named Roman. Jacqueline Woodson has many family members living throughout United States. All of them struggle with racial inequality in one way or another during this time. Jacqueline mentions Jim Crow laws that occurred where she lived. She recounts how African American people had to sit at the back of the bus, were not allowed to eat were white people ate, and were treated with suspicion by shopkeepers. After reading this book it is evident that all African American families had to fight for equality and fair treatment.
Eventually Jacqueline’s mother decides to move to New York City, where she hopes to escape racism. The family moves to Brooklyn, where Jacqueline’s aunts and uncles already live. They succeed in finding a place to live and Jacqueline goes to school there. She befriends a girl named Maria, who lives in the neighborhood. From an early age Jacqueline wishes to be a writer. She writes poems and creates song lyrics.
Jacqueline’s grandfather from South Carolina dies and the entire family holds a memorial service for him. Her grandmother then decides to move with the rest of the family to Brooklyn. Jacqueline’s family support the African American movement that is led at the time by Martin Luther King Jr. Jacqueline notes on significant changes that occur in regards to racial equality. While many African Americans are now allowed to sit at the front of the bus and eat where white people eat, Jacqueline states that there is still a feeling of oppression present. Jacqueline finishes the book by mentioning the Black Panther movement, which is an African American organization that strives to support racial equality.
The main character of this story has an older sister named Odella and an older brother named Hope. Later in the story her mother has another child, the youngest sibling named Roman. Jacqueline Woodson has many family members living throughout United States. All of them struggle with racial inequality in one way or another during this time. Jacqueline mentions Jim Crow laws that occurred where she lived. She recounts how African American people had to sit at the back of the bus, were not allowed to eat were white people ate, and were treated with suspicion by shopkeepers. After reading this book it is evident that all African American families had to fight for equality and fair treatment.
Eventually Jacqueline’s mother decides to move to New York City, where she hopes to escape racism. The family moves to Brooklyn, where Jacqueline’s aunts and uncles already live. They succeed in finding a place to live and Jacqueline goes to school there. She befriends a girl named Maria, who lives in the neighborhood. From an early age Jacqueline wishes to be a writer. She writes poems and creates song lyrics.
Jacqueline’s grandfather from South Carolina dies and the entire family holds a memorial service for him. Her grandmother then decides to move with the rest of the family to Brooklyn. Jacqueline’s family support the African American movement that is led at the time by Martin Luther King Jr. Jacqueline notes on significant changes that occur in regards to racial equality. While many African Americans are now allowed to sit at the front of the bus and eat where white people eat, Jacqueline states that there is still a feeling of oppression present. Jacqueline finishes the book by mentioning the Black Panther movement, which is an African American organization that strives to support racial equality.
historical background of the novel
The Civl War lasted for four years 1861-1865, after that, slavery was abolished, black men were free, and were allowed to vote. However, the South would do anything from preventing black men from voting. They would allow laws such as poll tax, grandfather's clause, and literacy tests, even it came up to the point where they allowed segregation laws, also known as Jim Crow Laws. In the South, the Ku Klux Klan began to grow, white supremacy was trying to be made the dominant group where they began to lynch African Americans. During the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877), there was no civil rights acts that passed in congress to avoid lynching, segregation, and hate occur in the South. It was not until 1957, was there a civil rights section in the Justice Department. Three years later, did congress finally set up a bill that would stop all the hate, lynching, and segregation, but when John F. Kennedy became president, he delayed the acts. What finally made him want to sign was the uprise of police brutality and protests in Birmingham, Alabama. However, in November of 1963, Kennedy was assassinated. Lyndon B. Johnson became president and finally signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The law written had said, "segregation on the grounds of race, religion or national origin was banned at all places of public accommodation, including courthouses, parks, restaurants, theaters, sports arenas and hotels. No longer could blacks and other minorities be denied service simply based on the color of their skin." Along with this law, the Department of Education helped desegregation in schools which allowed black and white students to be placed into schools without being divided.
After the Civil Rights Act, it allowed disabled, women, athletes, and elderly into a better path way. With this law as well the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed which banned any literacy tests or any other discriminatory acts to anyone while voting. As well as the Fair Housing Act of 1968 which banned any discrimination towards anyone trying to buy a house, a car, or rentals. Even though there were still struggles in equal chances for black people, segregation and racism began to die down.
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act
The law written had said, "segregation on the grounds of race, religion or national origin was banned at all places of public accommodation, including courthouses, parks, restaurants, theaters, sports arenas and hotels. No longer could blacks and other minorities be denied service simply based on the color of their skin." Along with this law, the Department of Education helped desegregation in schools which allowed black and white students to be placed into schools without being divided.
After the Civil Rights Act, it allowed disabled, women, athletes, and elderly into a better path way. With this law as well the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed which banned any literacy tests or any other discriminatory acts to anyone while voting. As well as the Fair Housing Act of 1968 which banned any discrimination towards anyone trying to buy a house, a car, or rentals. Even though there were still struggles in equal chances for black people, segregation and racism began to die down.
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act
May it be - song
We believed that the theme of this song best represented the mood of the text, as the song portrays a story of a journey and the belief in oneself that they can overcome adversity. That, no matter what, one can overcome the darkness that surrounds them and find their way back into the light.