"Wisht I could be like these darkies. Laughin' all the
time. Nothin' worries 'em" (996).
The
store clerk utters these words without a true understanding of human character.
Traditionally, a consumer does not divulge personal information to a store
clerk. Instead, the consumer remains detached for the duration of the
encounter. Not only is Joe's disengagement in this instance indicative of
standard impersonal interaction, it is also characteristic of black culture
during this time period. The
1930's were a time where many African Americans couldn't catch a break with
regard to racism and inequality. Instead of obsessing over troublesome
situations in which they had no power to singularly overcome, one brushed it
off. To say that Joe was unaffected by Missie's infidelity is misguided. I'm
sure it bothered/worried him to no end. Nevertheless, he eventually
"laughed" it off and continued his day-to-day like because for
African Americans existence itself was a constant battle and decisions were
made regarding which battles were worth forgetting. He chose to leave behind
the memory of Missie and Slemmons because he felt their love benefitted him in
the long run.
Question: Why else would Joe choose to stay with Missie
despite her infidelity?
I feel that this quote is significant because it identifies effects of the racial barriers that existed within the south. To assume that Missie's affair with Slemmons left her relationship with Joe unaffected is in my opinion a misconception. There was friction in the marriage that persisted even after Missie bore a child. I contend that the incident among the couple helped to flesh out the way they viewed the black opposite sex, but also their inability to address it without impacting their relationship dynamic. The whole situation was so odd that they couldn't find a way to even talk about it. Hence discourse was a tool that Southern African Americans weren't able to use. And when the clerk makes this statement, he not only confirms that racial misconceptions exist in the south, but also that Whites were guilty of perpetuating discourse that strengthens racial barriers. His judgment of African American relations is jaded and is in no way indicative of how black couples dealt with their issues.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: How else do the racial misconceptions held by characters in the story indicate the crippled state of Southern discourse?