The Millenial Novel Caucasia - Book Report/Review Example

Caucasia Over the past few years, individuals of a mixed race have come to represent as testimony to the ideals of American democracy – the justification of national identity and racial diversity. This assertion of possessing an identity based on mixed race is also considered as an antidote to the age-old tradition of racial passing, which seems like a bygone phenomenon in what is currently being described as a ‘mulatto millennium’ (Beaulieu, 2006). Often, the term is merely invoked as a reminder to the complacent perception of racial identity. ‘Caucasia’ by Danzy Senna was written in a post-racial era when blacks were passed over prior to the Civil rights movement. Since then, America and the world in general have legalized interracial marriage on which the entire novel is based. In fact, the 2000 census is a direct narrative of the country’s progress to shed its mono-racialist approach in favour of a mixed race society. Many people view this phenomenon as an opportunity to refuse inclination towards the social ascriptions of caste and race and consider identifying with a mixed race as a type of liberating exercise symbolizing freedom of choice and will. In fact, these beliefs are the basic foundations of American nationalism and promulgate possessive individualism. ‘Caucasia’ is the story of two sisters – Birdie and Cole – who are the daughters of a black father and a white mother. Both their parents are activists in the Civil Rights movement that symbolized the America of the 1970s. Both sisters are so close to each other that they have their own private language but cannot disclose to the outside world that they are siblings. This is because Cole resembles a black lady while Birdie is predominantly white in skin colour. However, in Cole, Birdie sees the mirror reflection of own blackness (Carr, 2005). The story takes an interesting turn with the separation of their parents. While the father finds a new black girlfriend who has nothing but animosity towards white people, their mother dedicates herself to the cause of the civil movement. On one night, Birdie sees her father drive away with Cole and his black girlfriend. She later learns that the father took them to Brazil where he hoped to begin a new life of racial equality. The next day, Birdie and her mother leave everything including their identity behind in a bid to escape from the pursuing feds. Both begin a new life under a different guise in New Hampshire. Birdie is however determined to find Cole and despite being afraid of her mother, she sets out to find her. The rest of the story is about how she must learn to find her way through the white world and be ready for what she will uncover (Carr, 2005). At its core, Caucasia is a tale of a withering family. The first half is skilfully written about the robust relation between the sisters Birdie and Cole. Barnes (2006) described both sisters as complex and fully drawn characters and there is an element of magic attached to each of them. There are elements of miniscule things like the elder one protecting her younger sister and the younger one looking up to her elder sister for inspiration and advice. Thus, their bond transcends the social barriers of blood and is certainly far beyond skin colour. Millennial novels like ‘Caucasia’ seem to resurrect the notion of a new and spectacular life. The description of racial passing by Senna has emerged from seeming oblivion not to delve into past issues, but to rekindle some of the most intense debates about the relevance of race in this post-racial era of freedom and equality. Remarkably, this novel is among many others like the Intuitionist (2000) by Colson Whitehead and the Human stain (2001) by Philip Roth that seem to counter intuitively revitalize the notion of racial passing. In fact, it seems to have been recast as an interpretation of both literary inquiry and social analysis and seems to a few people as a theoretical error. In novels such as ‘Caucasia’, the theory of racial identity is not some outdated phenomenon, but rather a challenge the strength of racial passing in posing a contest to the endurance of human identity and formation. The entire novel is filled with important quotes that cast an immediate spell on the reader’s observation and thinking. One such quote which describes some ideas that Cole shares with her sister on her father’s perceptions on race goes like the following: “It’s right, you know. About it all being constructed. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist (408)” Quotes such as the one mentioned above can be found throughout the book and reflect the prevailing existence of racism as the girls were growing up. In fact, it shows that the girls grew stronger in mind and came closer together as they could only relate to each other and no one else. They both perceived all the racial discrimination around them as a strange phenomenon and only wanted to be regarded and accepted as sisters by others (Barnes, 2006). However, the above line signifies their slow and steady realization that none was prepared to look at them as sisters. The line also showcases the fact that many things in our life continue to be shaped by beliefs and perceptions on class, race, gender and skin colour. The scene where Birdie is presented with a tootsies top by James and then asked to suck as long as she can before taking a bite also reflects across the book in entirety. However, Brooks (2005) does not totally agree with the facts presented in the novel. He believes that a major part of the novel seems to present the dilemma faced by Birdie and feels that similar thoughts could also have been attributed to Cole. He is of the strong opinion that such situations shape everyone’s views and self-understanding based on class, race and gender and cannot be related to only a single person or character. Most people are raised in an environment where they are told and educated of only one side of the story. People are compelled to accept these facts in such circumstances and continue to be restricted by this limited understanding through their life. He primarily highlights that the characters are limited by their age and understanding of the prevailing social customs and must therefore refrain from delving too much to such an extent that they will be unable to accommodate these new facts. The fact that both girls move to different places from Boston is also utilized in this justification by arguing that living in different regions helps one gain different perspectives of life (Root, 2001). Nevertheless, the novel is based on the struggles faced by both these sisters. The book provides several things to consider allowing the liberty to the reader to form their own view on the story. But it must be specified that the reader must not be restricted to this unique version of the social conditions during the civil rights movement. One has to borrow several ideas and historical facts from other sources in order to weave together a holistic picture of the entire situation using a free and fair strategy (Bost, 2003). Wald (2007) thinks that the story also takes an interesting turn once Birdie and her mother go into hiding in order to escape the feds for alleged involvement with radical groups. From then, the novel turns into a mother-daughter tale. While this relationship is definitely deep, it is not very wonderful. The novel portrays the character of Birdie’s mother as someone who cannot be trusted in totality. There is no description of her past deeds or her involvement in radical or criminal activities and there is also an indication whether the perception of pursuing feds was simply a thought in her mind. Although Birdie loves her mother like any other child, her affection is mixed together with a quantum of hatred. It raises questions whether her mother took only her along as she could not risk hiding together with a black daughter. It also raises doubts whether Birdie was her second and alternative choice. The latter half of the novel raises many such doubts over this mother-daughter relationship. Generally speaking, Beaulieu (2006) has stated that Senna has poignantly showcased the frictions present in interracial marriages. She describes the mother’s anguish at being unable to generate the cornrows that Cole’s classmates wear. She also highlights the humiliation and discrimination faced by mixed couples and most importantly their children who face trouble and opposition in associating themselves with any specific racial sect and is evident throughout the novel. For example, Birdie does not feel comfortable while studying at the predominantly black private school in Boston or the all-white school in New Hampshire. She faced stubborn opposition from being accepted as a black in the former school but was readily accepted in her new life as a white given her fairer skin colour. However, to be accepted as a white girl, she had to let go of racial epithets which made her think of herself as a sell out (Bost, 2003). The first person narration by the character ‘Birdie’ adds depth to her story. The narration by the older and wiser voice illuminates her rather naive views as she begins to wonder whether her mother may not have faced the obligation to relocate from Boston in the first place. The story comes of age unlike any others exploring the issue of racial identity. Root (2001) describes that the tale provides an inspiring point of view into how Birdie puts up with a lot of adversity. In fact, she seems to lose sense with her own self at a certain juncture, but is then awoken to bring back everything into perspective for her senses. Caucasia is thus a heartbreaking tale of a biracial girl who was born and raised amidst an environment of racial tension both within her family and outside. It seems as if she were completely white, devoid of her black heritage and any such lineage and presents a roller coaster ride riddled with emotional moments. The story sets the reader in motion to think of the difficulties one can face on accounting of having a biracial heritage and is motivating and insightful. It also portrays the difficult times which the author must have herself undergone as the daughter of a black father and white mother and the obstacles she must have faced both emotionally and psychologically in ascertaining her own background. Caucasia has provided ample opportunity to the author to criticize both sides namely the black and white populations simultaneously. It depicts the real world where even the most generous people harbour reservations and suspicion about people with different skin colour than their own. The story is a sober and fair critique that blames everyone equally for the problems brought upon one another in the name of racial identity. In this deftly woven novel, Senna has developed an intricate plot that explores the deficiencies of race and identity. References 1. Brooks (2005), Literature and racial ambiguity. New York: Rodopi. 2. Beaulieu (2006), Writing African American women: an encyclopedia of literature by and about women of color. Greenwood Publishing. 3. Root (2001), Loves revolution: interracial marriage. Temple University Press. 4. Wald (2007), Crossing the line: racial passing in twentieth-century U.S. literature and culture. Duke University Press. 5. Carr (2005), The Columbia guide to contemporary African American fiction. Columbia University Press. 6. Barnes (2006), New voices on the Harlem Renaissance: essays on race, gender, and literary discourse. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. 7. Bost (2003), Mulattas and mestizas: representing mixed identities in the Americas, 1850-2000. University of Grorgia Press. Read More