During WWII, the United States and Great Britain established the Bases-for-Destroyers Deal, a well-named trade of US warships for British military bases in the Caribbean. This deal marked the beginning of the decline of colonialism in Britain and the rise of America. The Bases Deal was made largely without consulting the Caribbean people. They did not know what to expect from the United States, but feared that they were swapping one imperialist power for another. Additionally, they recognized this short period as an opportunity to gain political inclusion and reform. Oddly enough, the activism of the Harlem nexus was essential in fighting for Caribbean reform. Furthermore during the Great Depression, blacks returning to the West Indies brought with them these sentiments and race consciousness, which continued to fuel social social agitation. In Harlem, the growing radicalism acted as a warning for President Roosevelt. He knew that he needed to handle the situation in the Caribbean sensitively, and he also sympathized with the Caribbean people. He sent Charles Taussig to gain an understanding of the Caribbean, and Taussig in return suggested that Roosevelt instruct all representatives to conform to the customs and practices of the Caribbean. This was vital in easing tensions in the Caribbean.
(EDIT: When reading Brown Girl, Brownstones I was an idiot and thought that they lived in Harlem. This did made me question why Selina would be allowed to go all the way to Prospect Park with Beryl, but I told myself kids might be allowed to do that in that time period. I realized in class that they actually lived in Brooklyn, but my response assumes they live in Harlem.)
The first two books of Brown Girl, Brownstones are a captivating representation of life in Harlem at this time. Selina is a girl who just wants to go to the movies, eat Hooton’s, go to the park, and avoid the wrath of her mother. I think her mother is well described as she walks through the park. In this sweltering summer, “Silla brought the theme of winter” walking through the park. Her strong-made body is juxtaposed with the women and their idleness. Silla is hardworking, strong-minded, and wrathful. On the other hand, Deighton, is misguided and undetermined. He is often switching between fields that he believes will make him money. Silla explains that he was practicing to be a mechanic, and now he is studying to be an accountant. However, he is ignorant to the fact that white men won’t hire him, even though he has been rejected from such jobs before. Deighton and Silla are also juxtaposed in the explanations they give of their childhood to Selina. Deighton describes the days he spent playing around with his friends, while Silla explains a life of tireless slave work in the fields. Selina feels respect and love for her mother when she explains this.
The most surprising aspect of this representation of Harlem was the rampant sexual conduct and how openly it was discussed. Silla knows that her husband’s trips to Fulton Street are to visit women and openly speaks with another women about it. Her response is that he should take care of his woman before heading out to the concubines. Suggie Skeete is one such woman who is very sexually active. The book goes into a lot of detail about her interspersed with quotes from Silla of judgmental remarks about Suggie. Despite this, there is one moment when Deighton is out on Fulton Street and Silla feels outside the circle of life in Harlem. She looks to Suggie’s window in subtle jealousy.
The second book mostly focuses on Selina’s coming-of-age. Beryl says Selina is still just a kid. Selina longs for the freedom she witnesses in the lovers at the park. She describes one time when her father beat her. Beryl’s father Percy is a strong, powerful man and openly speaks of Deighton’s foolishness in dealing with his new land.
