Gail Lewis 'Birthing Racial Difference'

1. Question leading to reconsideration or rethinking
In Gail Lewis’ article, “Birthing racial difference: a conversation with my mother and others,” the author expresses lived experiences and memories of what it was like living in Britain. She explores the idea of “race” in her text and focuses on the divisions between black and white. Though she does not portray negative feelings towards her parent’s relationship, there is a sense of understanding and accepting that because her parents were in love, they overcame the social norms (“ideal” couple) and racial differencing. However, is this really the case? Lewis is later forced outside of her comfort zone and is exposed to discrimination and judgement from the outside world. She states how she continually watched her mother prepare herself for “another sneer, another comment, yet another demonstration of what people known to you or not, thought of you and your black …show more content…
How your father and brother claimed you brought shame and disgrace on the family, on them” (10). It is evident that due to history and the situation that Lewis was born into, she could not avoid her reality. The colour of her skin represented negativity, danger and difference, making her a victim of verbal and physical abuse, as white people referred to her as “nigger cunt” and bullied her in school. When children experience a clash between their private and public lives (what they learned at home vs. societal beliefs), how can their outlook on race and people of other colour change? What are the challenges of raising a child in a society that is against “mixed” couples and how can having parents of different skin tone affect how a child develops and views themselves? How does one mistake or negative action from one person affect your view on their entire race? Why do we naturally merge people together based on their skin colour