Theme Of Race In The Two Grandmothers

Race is a classification that mankind uses as a self-identification tool in regards to one’s identity. Through culture, history, language, many classify themselves under a specific ethnic group. Because of race, we are able to connect ourselves to others around the world by sharing in physical traits, genetics, ancestry or the relations between them. Although race draws in the world as a whole, connecting, shaping and building bonds between nations, race can also create segregation, hate, and inferior races amongst others. Just like race, social classes also play a large role in the discrimination towards others, strictly based upon their wealth status as well as their social status in the world. Similarly, both race and class play a key role …show more content…
During the first two letters to her mother, it is evident that the granddaughter is too young to realize the exact discrimination taking place, but notices the way Towser attacks Grandma Del as well as the granddaughter herself. “Darling with all due respect your paternal grandmother she’s a lovely lady… other than that your Grandma Del is a country bumpkin of the deepest waters and don’t quote her goddamn sayings to me” (Senior 70). In this quotation, Towser expresses disrespect towards Grandma Del, attacking both her social class as well as expressing to the granddaughter to never repeat her sayings of her faith to her. This impacts the granddaughter because of her naivetés and her unawareness to the fact that Towser is outright disrespecting Grandma Del strictly based upon the fact that she is in a lower social class and therefore does not deserve the respect from Towser. Similarly, as the granddaughter grows older in the story, Towser remains discriminatory towards the granddaughter herself, judging her for the darkness of her skin and the coarseness of her …show more content…
And my skin? She always seems angry about it and Joyce says Grandma is sorry I came out dark because she is almost a white lady and I am really dark…” (Senior 73). In this quotation, Towser is openly blunt to the child, expressing her hate towards the child’s physical features. Although the granddaughter is still a pre-adolescent, it is clear that the granddaughter’s views begin to take shape through the remarks made by Towser. Furthermore, the theme of discrimination continues on as the granddaughter faces more discriminatory remarks at Clearwater when visiting her cousins Maureen and Jason. Maureen, who had an open hate towards the granddaughter from the beginning, made a vulgar remark to the granddaughter in an attempts to shame and put down. “Mummy, am I really a nigger? That’s what Maureen said when we were playing one day and she got mad at me and said “You’re only a goddam nigger you don’t know any better… you’re not fit to play with me.”” (Senior 79). Through this quotation, the use of the word nigger degrades the granddaughter showing the readers that Maureen’s racism is every present even as time moves on. With the racism and the discrimination the granddaughter faces, this only further fuels her views as since race as a classification and less as a self-identification tool. Similarly, the granddaughter’s views begin to shape themselves through the social classification she faces throughout the