Grant Influence On Identity

Grant’s personality is affected by his profession which impacts his identity. Grant is a teacher in an African American and uneducated area in Louisiana during the civil rights era. He teaches students in the primier years in a church. His personality is altered in that “I brought the westcott down on his skull, loud enough to send a sound throughout the church” (Gaines 38). Since Grant is a teacher, his personality has been altered in a negative way. This influences the way he acts towards others in his community because of the ways his students aggravate him. Next,Grant's personality is impacted in that “ I said. And I teach what the white folks around here tell me to teach- reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. They never told me how to keep a black boy out of a …show more content…
Grant is one of few educated in his society, many rely on him for support and to fulfill their needs. For example Jefferson is falsely accused of murder, and his godmother, Miss Emma, wants Grant to have Jefferson die with the dignity of a man. Grant’s role in society is explained in that “ ‘You go’n do it, she said. We going up there and talk to Mr. Henri.’ ‘Talk to Henri Pichot? For what?’ I asked her. ‘So you have the right to visit Jefferson’.”(Gaines 14). Miss Emma is asking Grant if he can take leadership and use his education to have Jefferson die as a man. This demonstrates Grant fulfilling society’s requests because of his education. Also, Grant fulfills the requests in that “ ‘I came to see Jefferson,’ I said. ‘How y’all getting along?’ ‘This’ll be my first time alone with him.’”(Gaines 81). Perviously Grant had only visited Jefferson with Miss Emma, but he listened to the society's request to accomplish what his societies requested. Grant’s role in society of a teacher impacts his identity in the way he helps others. Grant’s profession has had a major impact on his identity which was caused by his role in