“Capital of the Caribbean” by Jason Parker explains how Harlem was the “nexus” of the drive for black freedom. Prior to WWII, blacks in Harlem were organizing politically and gaining power as to pushing for equal rights. This effort was pushed forward when Italy invaded Ethiopia, which was a symbol of black freedom, strength, and resistance. The occupation of Ethiopia united the not only the Caribbean and African blacks in Harlem, but also blacks around the world in an effort to promote black freedom. Following the invasion, the U.S. had completed a bases-for-destroyers deal with the English. This deal gave the U.S. control over many caribbean naval bases in return for old destroyers, thus the U.S. continued to seem neutral in the war. To prepare the islands for the naval bases, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent Charles Taussig, a former molasses company owner, to learn about the islands. To show his credibility, Taussig had letters of support from Walter White who was a leader of the NAACP. On his trip to the caribbean, Taussig spoke to caribbean leaders and radicals who advised him on the matters of the islands. Not only did Taussig have to take into consideration the caribbean islanders, but also the voting black population living in New York who were paying attention to FDR’s every move. After returning, Taussig pushed FDR to initiate a caribbean policy that respects caribbean cultures and promotes the improvement of the Caribbean economy and government.
The first book of Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall introduces the Boyce family and our protagonist, Selina Boyce. Selina lives in a brownstone house in Flatbush with her Father, Deighton, her mother, Silla, and her older sister, Ina. From the beginning of the novel, we learn that of Selina’s jealosy of Ina who is coming of age. We also learn about the the Silla’s second child, a baby boy, who died of heart problems before the birth of Selina. At home on a hot summer day, Selina talks to her father in a the sun parlor where her father received a letter informing him of two acres of land he received from his sister in Barbados. Deighton says he plans to moving back to the island where he will build a house on the acres. After talking to her father, Selina goes out to buy “Hootons” where she meets her friend, Beryl, who, like Ina, is coming of age and thus shames Selina. In the brownstone house, the Boyce family is accompanied by Suggie Skeete who has a lover every saturday night to wash away the week’s troubles. Also living the brownstone house is Miss Mary and her daughter Maritze. Miss Mary used to work for a white family and in her old age lying on the bed, all she does is recall the times she worked for the family. This nostalgia angers her daughter Maritze who believes her mother was mistreated and abandoned by the white family. Maritze prays to god and whispers “I don’t want to hear about those people…I don’t want to hear…” When Silla comes home and Deighton meets her, they argue over Deighton’s “idleness.” Silla wishes Deighton would save money for the down payment of the house, but instead he buys silk shirts and wastes his time learning about jobs he will never get. Beyond his uselessness in finances, Deighton continues to see a concubine which infuses resentment in his wife. When Deighton tells Silla of the land, Silla screams at him to sell it so they can pay off their home, but he refuses and says he will do what he pleases. Silla then states that the land is a lie which angers Deighton who teases her by saying ” you’s god; you must know.” After Deighton storms out of the house, Silla meets with her pregnant friend Virgie Farnum to whom she explains her indignation of Deighton. Virgie agrees, and explains of the hardship Deighton causes for his loving mother back in Barbados who spoiled him with love and money she didn’t have. At night, Ina tells her mother that Selina and her father were talking about the land, thus Silla seeks to confront Selina to gain more information. When she does so, Silla struggles to get Selina to speak and strikes her child. Selina tells her mother she wouldn’t mind going to Barbados with her father. This enrages Silla who screams that she was “third class,” “working harder than a man at 10 years old” and about how she begged her mother to send her to America where she would work and send money. But Silla ended up with a no good man and a brought a child in the world ” to whip [her].”
Book 2 of Brownstones, Brown Girl Begins with Selina going to Beryl’s home so the two can go to Prospect park. Their, Beryl’s father express his distaste of Deighton Boyce, calling him a “disgrace” for not knowing how to handle a family or finances. On the bus to Prospect park, Selina believes she is free of her home and troubles. At the park, the two go to the zoo, watch lovers on the grass, and see boys playing baseball. Sitting under the shade, Beryl explains to Selina how she “bleeds” and gets cramps, and how her figure is improving. Beryl says it will happen to Selina soon, but Selina objects saying that that it won’t. Beryl says she Selina won’t understand as she is only a “kid” although Beryl is only one year older than her. Selina is ashamed and her prior feeling of freedom is gone as she is “still trapped within a hard flat body.”
