ZZ packer’s short story “Brownies” is a of a type genre I do not particularly gravitate to when looking to read something. However, I am glad I had the opportunity to do so. In her writ-ing Ms. Packer touches on an ugly truth in society. Namely racial intolerance, indifference and misunderstanding through ignorance and through conflict. Capably she explores the issue through the experience of a summer camp outing for two Girl Scout troops of elementary school aged girls, one African American and the other Caucasian. Using writer’s skill set like imagery and using both a first and third person narrative Ms. Packer deftly tackles the harshness of hu-man nature and ugliness that may never be eradicated. From the opening two sentences I was impressed
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Packer was showing how the victimized can easily become the victimizer (Packer 2,3). The girls come across as mean spirited clearly looking to grasp any reason for a confrontation. Early in the story Arnetta gives them a reason soon enough by declaring “Man, I completely heard that girl” (Packer 5) claiming she heard one of girls in Troop 909 utter a racial slur towards Daphne. I think this was what Arnetta wanted to hear. What she and Octavia expected to hear. It gave validation of her own prejudice and gave Octavia a chance to chime in and support the assertion without questioning it or solid proof. I felt empathy for Daphne when she was bullied into agreement by Arnetta and used as the rallying point for the other …show more content…
Once, while they are trying to figure out how to get back at Troop 909 and second time when in the washroom during the “secret meeting”. This made me think Laurel was beginning to mature. She was questing an assertion that the other Brownies where not except Daphne who knew the truth. Later, when the plan is put into action Arenetta leads the rest of the Brownies to confront the girls from Troop 909 in the washroom. To their disbelief and amazement they discover that 909 are special needs. Stunned, they react using a slur to describe the 909 troops with slow learner disabilities. It is in that moment they become what they despised… prejudged and insensitive. Though not fully understanding what was tran-spiring is the irony of the whole situation. I believe some of Laurel’s troop did feel remorse and a bit ashamed. Ms. Packer in that one scene showed us how someone could be humbled so fast in the face of facts that can at least throw in to question what they believe is a truth. The leader of Troop 909 goes onto explain the condition some of the girls had what is called echolalic – re-peating what they hear with-out understanding the meaning. This was how the slur may have been spoken but it is never
Packer was showing how the victimized can easily become the victimizer (Packer 2,3). The girls come across as mean spirited clearly looking to grasp any reason for a confrontation. Early in the story Arnetta gives them a reason soon enough by declaring “Man, I completely heard that girl” (Packer 5) claiming she heard one of girls in Troop 909 utter a racial slur towards Daphne. I think this was what Arnetta wanted to hear. What she and Octavia expected to hear. It gave validation of her own prejudice and gave Octavia a chance to chime in and support the assertion without questioning it or solid proof. I felt empathy for Daphne when she was bullied into agreement by Arnetta and used as the rallying point for the other …show more content…
Once, while they are trying to figure out how to get back at Troop 909 and second time when in the washroom during the “secret meeting”. This made me think Laurel was beginning to mature. She was questing an assertion that the other Brownies where not except Daphne who knew the truth. Later, when the plan is put into action Arenetta leads the rest of the Brownies to confront the girls from Troop 909 in the washroom. To their disbelief and amazement they discover that 909 are special needs. Stunned, they react using a slur to describe the 909 troops with slow learner disabilities. It is in that moment they become what they despised… prejudged and insensitive. Though not fully understanding what was tran-spiring is the irony of the whole situation. I believe some of Laurel’s troop did feel remorse and a bit ashamed. Ms. Packer in that one scene showed us how someone could be humbled so fast in the face of facts that can at least throw in to question what they believe is a truth. The leader of Troop 909 goes onto explain the condition some of the girls had what is called echolalic – re-peating what they hear with-out understanding the meaning. This was how the slur may have been spoken but it is never