When Charisma and the narrator are talking at the school, she comments on how, ever since the sign “priority seating for whites” has been displayed on Marpessa’s bus, the bus has been safe and the people have been exceptionally friendly. When they see the sign, “people grouse at first, but the racism takes them back. Makes them humble” (163). The narrator then gets the notion in his head that in order to bring back Dickens, they need segregation. When reading this, I was confused on the idea. Why would segregation make the bus a safer place? I know Charisma noted that it makes people humble, but what about it makes people humble? Isn’t it segregation that made people rise up and fight for their rights?
3 thoughts on “Bringing Segregation to Dickens?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You raise an excellent point here. I would say that it seems as though people are united when they realize there is a larger battle to be fought (that they are not each other’s enemies). Segregation during the Civil Rights Movement was a time when such a divide between white and black (and really white and minorities) was prevalent. My hypothesis, if you will, is that such a divide united these groups. They were united in their struggle. I think the sign reminded people of such a time and they remembered once more that they were not each other’s enemy.
I would also add that the explicit declaration of segregation causes people to reflect on how segregation has been playing a role in their current lives. Thus, by declaring segregation, you are actually just illuminating the kind of unspoken system, in which we currently reside, where most schools, busses and other institutions are separated by race. Perhaps if Hominy and the narrator are able to segregate the schools, then people all over the country will become more aware of the way that segregation has been rampant in American society for decades.
Praise, I think the reverse segregation that we mentioned in class today solidifies your hypothesis. It is only natural for people to feel most comfortable with those whom they share the most interests/sentiments. I think this is a great opportunity to bring up other scenarios in which we experience these feelings. For example, we came to Bowdoin this August and immediately gravitated to those who shared our interests. For example, I immediately felt at home with my fellow pre-med friends. It was like we had a pervasive struggle that we all had to conquer together. Did anyone else experience this same feeling when arriving to Bowdoin? Or is this me just oversimplifying the scenario at hand? (Don’t feel afraid to counter my point…I really want to hear your feedback!) Thanks.