Black Shack Alley
I greatly enjoyed reading Black Shack Alley although it was at times challenging to read due to its subject matter and was certainly not the light reading I was hoping for in the midst of midterm season. The novel is set in Martinique, and details the struggles that befall the Black community in post-colonial Martinique. Unlike many other Caribbean islands, Martinique did not gain full independence and instead became an overseas department of France.
It is under this backdrop that we follow the story of José from childhood all the way to adolescence. All this takes place amidst the systemic discrimination imposed against Blacks by the government within postcolonial Martinique. Through the struggles of José and his family, Zobel illuminates the challenges of overcoming poverty and achieving social mobility in a system designed to maintain the status quo. When I was reading the novel, I was able to really empathize with José’s character, who despite being a just a normal little boy doing normal little boy things faces immense discrimination and challenges. The family grows up in a very poor neighbourhood on “Black Shack Alley”, and still live in extreme poverty despite the end of slavery.
Later on in adolescence, there is one scene where one of José’s teachers accuses him of plagiarism, insinuating that it was too good to have been written by a black student. He responds by doubling down, working even harder to succeed academically and continue to prove his teacher wrong and excel. It is truly an incredible feat to have been able to do well academically despite the circumstances and being pushed down. He feels a deep sadness for some of the others in the community who may not get the same opportunities that he has as they continue to be trapped in the cycle of discrimination and challenges in accessing education.
Overall, I found this novel to be very thought provoking and provided a great narrative of resilience about the whole island of Martinique and the life of José and his community. Throughout the novel there is a strong focus on family and the importance of resilience and sacrifice from family to help those around the community achieve more and escape the cycle of poverty they face. Education is also very important, and is seen as a key way for them all to escape poverty. To what extent do you think education continues to be a way for people to escape these cycles of discrimination and poverty?
On education... doesn't the book also indicate that there is more than one way to learn things? Doesn't Médouze, for instance, also give Jose an education, teaching him things that are not taught in school, that are not part of the country's "official" history? What other instances are of this?
ReplyDeleteHi Glen, I liked your approach on the power of education. I think systemic discrimination holds people in ongoing cycles, and to some it becomes the only reality. Education is definitely one of the doors that can provide an escape to this lifestyle, as it gives you the tools to both exit this physical reality and grow out of it as a person, which we can see Jose does and if you think about it, can never go back under what he considers possible.
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