There are so many sayings today about how a person should never pretend to be someone they are not because they are only hurting themselves. But what if a person was forced to changed their identity and escape from who they truly are inside. In the novel, Caucasia by Danzy Senna a girl named Birdie goes through an identity crisis not knowing where she belongs. Her mother is white and her father is black making her a tan skinned girl while her sister is more similar to her father’s looks. Throughout the book Birdie is pressured multiple times to pass as a white Italian girl. With her not knowing where she belongs in the world she becomes depressed and has this invisible quality around others. Caucasia expresses topics of racial passing, invisibility,
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Sandy was so paranoid about getting caught she made sure that the two of them became nothing like their old selves. Thinking of the perfect names to fit their new identities Sandy asked Birdie for some ideas, but shot her down and ended up using the names she wanted. Communicating with Birdie, Sandy says, “We’ve got to think of a new name for you. Any suggestions, Birdaloo? But she didn’t wait for my answer. Instead she slapped her knee and hooted, Jesse! That’s it! It’s a dynamite name” (Senna 128). Sandy not letting Birdie speak or put some input into what her new name will be adds to her invisibly quality about her. All her life Birdie has never had as much attention as Cole. Cole and her father had a great relationship they did a lot of things together while Birdie was always second choice. When the three of them would hangout together Birdie would always be trying as much as possible to get her fathers attention, but he only seemed interested in talking with Cole. Birdie would do cartwheels, talk about things Deck enjoyed, and even try and crack a few jokes to try and bond with her father. The only time Birdie did not feel invisible was when she was with Cole they had a great sister relationship. Birdie now as Jesse she lost part of herself and started to live this lie with her mother who is now
Sandy was so paranoid about getting caught she made sure that the two of them became nothing like their old selves. Thinking of the perfect names to fit their new identities Sandy asked Birdie for some ideas, but shot her down and ended up using the names she wanted. Communicating with Birdie, Sandy says, “We’ve got to think of a new name for you. Any suggestions, Birdaloo? But she didn’t wait for my answer. Instead she slapped her knee and hooted, Jesse! That’s it! It’s a dynamite name” (Senna 128). Sandy not letting Birdie speak or put some input into what her new name will be adds to her invisibly quality about her. All her life Birdie has never had as much attention as Cole. Cole and her father had a great relationship they did a lot of things together while Birdie was always second choice. When the three of them would hangout together Birdie would always be trying as much as possible to get her fathers attention, but he only seemed interested in talking with Cole. Birdie would do cartwheels, talk about things Deck enjoyed, and even try and crack a few jokes to try and bond with her father. The only time Birdie did not feel invisible was when she was with Cole they had a great sister relationship. Birdie now as Jesse she lost part of herself and started to live this lie with her mother who is now