The protagonist, Olivia, is half white, half black. Her mother was a slave who died during labor, and her father is a more privileged white man. As a black woman, Olivia is the victim of prejudice comments, and people even call her “dirty”. In one particularly disturbing scene, a boy named George tries to wash Olivia’s skin, and she explains to him that she is not actually dirty, that that is just the color of her skin. This helps Olivia feel like less of a victim, and forces George to show her some respect. In the end, the two of them end up being rather good friends.
Along with experiencing her own prejudices, Olivia also sees injustice committed against her fellow African Americans. Olivia empathizes with them, and, though her mother, who would have been the only direct black influence in her life has passed away, she still feels very connected to, and proud of, her black heritage. She’s not ashamed at all of her heritage, and, thanks to her faith in God, she is able to take pride in the fact that she is related to everyone she meets. Olivia says, “I am not ashamed to acknowledge my affinity with the swarthiest negro that was ever brought from Guinea’s coast! –All, all are brethren, children of one common Parent!” (53).
While Olivia experiences her fair share of frustrations throughout the story, even with her own father’s failure to stand up for her and other blacks, her faith allows her to stay strong and to hold true to her identity.
While Olivia experiences her fair share of frustrations throughout the story, even with her own father’s failure to stand up for her and other blacks, her faith allows her to stay strong and to hold true to her identity.
I happened to have really enjoyed this story. However, I did not find the scene with Olivia and George to be disturbing. To me it showed just how easily you could shape the minds of young children. If more people had tried to teach children that blacks were not dirty slaves, but actually people with their own emotions and contributions, things could have changed earlier on in history. After Olivia spoke with George and told him how they were all brothers and sisters who came from the same being, George began to understand and be curious. When George wanted to accompany Olivia to see Dido, it showed how she sparked an inquiry in him about race and understanding of others. Olivia, instead of pitying herself for being a different race, showed others that she was no different and could stand up to herself. When talking to Ms. Merton she proved that she was more educated and civilized. Ms. Merton was a horrible creature that deserved the cruelty though. I also noticed a theme of her spirituality and faith in god. It drew parallels to Esquiano, which also spoke about faith. Overall this story was powerful and hilarious at times.
ReplyDeleteI found it disturbing only in that George had this idea that Olivia was "dirty" to begin with. Though it stems from mere ignorance, and though George is open and accepting of Olivia after she explains to him that she is not, in fact, dirty, the fact that George has this thought disturbs me. Racism is never okay, and is always, at least until it is eliminated, disturbing.
ReplyDeleteTheir friendship afterward, however, is beautiful :)
What I love most about the message you (and I as well) took away from the story is that it is till relate-able and relevant today. It carries a very important lesson that all people still, devastatingly, have not seemed to learn. To requote what you quoted earlier:
ReplyDelete“We are considered an inferior race, but little removed from the brutes, because the Almighty Maker of all created beings has tinged our skins with jet instead of ivory! —I say our, for though the jet has been faded to the olive in my own complexion, I am not ashamed to acknowledge my affinity with the swarthiest negro that was ever brought from Guinea’s coast!— All, all are brethren, children of one common Parent."
This was such a moving passage to me. Olivia not only believes that she is related to everyone she meets, but she believes that all people are equal. She knows that she is seen as inferior, but she refutes that bravely noting that the only real difference is the color of her skin.Olivia notes that her father was trying to marry her off so she would have someone to protect her from the "scenes which were daily hurting the pride of human nature." I think that is a great way to put what racism does. Yes, it hurts the people it is directed at, but it also hurt all of human nature. It saddens me that this was published in 1808 and --though we have made great strides in equality since then-- there are still people today in 2013 that are unable to grasp this concept. We're all the same, despite what we look like! I think that the people still inhibited by racism could all learn a great lesson from Olivia.
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ReplyDeleteThis is what I get for trying to delete a comment on account of its being one minute late: here it is, not sure if it counts or not, but feel free to read it:
DeleteWhat really struck me about this collection of letters was its adherence to its title: “The Woman of Colour.” Throughout the text, Olivia balances her anxieties about marriage, mutual love, etc, with her vexations about not being treated like a lady in British society because of her racial status.
You are right though to point out that she is not at all personally ashamed of her heritage. One passage in particular that appealed to me was one of several confrontations between her and Mrs. Merton, in which the ungracious host orders rice to be served to her: “I understood that people of your – I thought that you almost lived upon rice” (77). Rather than eat the rice or express offense, Olivia uses the opportunity given to announce the common humanity that they all share: “they would be glad to exchange it for a little of your nice wheaten bread here” (78).
I really enjoyed this story as well. While many have agreed that the scene between George and Olivia was "disturbing", I found it more raw and honest than anything else. As Olivia points out: "There is something bewitchingly charming about infantine simplicity" (78). George has been raised in an prejudice environment. At this young age, the sentiments that he expresses do not stem from pure personal malice, but rather from his desire to mimic the behavior of the adults in his life and to do what he has been taught to be "right." Olivia recognizes this as an opportunity to change these beliefs when his mind is still malleable as a child. Her patient response to George shows a sense of superiority over the majority of the white, prejudice society that she is surrounded by as she appears more mature than people like Mrs. Merton who are supposedly "smarter" and "better" than her. The fact that this scene happens between a child and Olivia also suggests a comparison to be made between society's prejudices and irrational childishness.
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