Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin Sparknotes

As we grow up we come to a point in life were we struggle to find and own our identity. Most importantly, we come to a point were we wrestle with being ourselves and being what others want. That being said, race also has a big role in one finding and owning their identity. Although difficult to admit race and what others think come hand and hand. Resulting in sometimes letting others and race dictate our life choices. In Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, we are introduced to “Viveca Stanton who is a black girl born in the early 1960’s in Los Angeles. She is determined to be the most famous dancing star in the world.” Since she was a little girl Viveca was always had bubbly and optimistic personality but as her story unfolds she begins …show more content…
An example of this is when Viveca enters junior high she is able to easily fit among kids of all races which angers her black friends. As a result, she is introduced the insulting term Oreo (black on the outside but white in the inside). Viveca is conflicted between what is right. In one hand she believes that acting white is the road to happiness but then on the other hand she confused and insulted by the term Oreo. This being a prime example of how Viveca’s relationships shape and challenged her sense of identity. As the play progresses Viveca go on to high school and straightens her hair as an effort to hide her blackness. She goes on to a date white man named Cosmetic Rainbow after a situation where Viveca’s new straighten hair is ruined by an owner of the lawn where Cosmetic and his friend are protesting the war at. Cosmetic rainbow falls in love with Viveca’s “Wild hair” resulting in Viveca leaving her hair in a fro to please her new boyfriend. Viveca goes on to introduce her boyfriend to her mother who tells her that no good will come from an inter-racial relationship. This only adding fuel to her already conflicting view that being white is the road to happiness. After things break off with Cosmetic Viveca when he tells her he will not take her to prom Viveca decides it is time to find a black boyfriend. After going to a black party with her friend Emily, Viveca’s reunites with her childhood friend Gregory Robinson but reunion is cut short when Viveca is reminded that being black is bad after Gregory is mistaken for a criminal by the police. After high school claims her independence by moving to New York and perusing her dream of being famous dancer. Only to be faced again with conflicting feeling about her identity after an audition were she is told by a director to not go white on him. To please him, Viveca acts more black and is hired by the