Lived City (3): Love and Desire on Lived City (3): Love and Desire on Cities‘ MarginsCities‘ Margins

“ “I’m Running for my Life” and I’m Running for my Life” and “Blossom”“Blossom”

Outline Outline

Starting QuestionsStarting Questions ExoticaExotica: :

General intro and comparison with Vive l’amour General intro and comparison with Vive l’amour

Margins and MinoritiesMargins and Minorities Exotica: the Site and the Sight; Exotica: the Site and the Sight; Betrayal vs. Ritual/Contract for Self-Therapy; Betrayal vs. Ritual/Contract for Self-Therapy;

The Caribbeans in TorontoThe Caribbeans in Toronto ““I’m Running for my Life”I’m Running for my Life” ““Blossom” Blossom”

Caribbean Immigrants Caribbean Immigrants in Canada: Background (1)in Canada: Background (1)

Early ImmigrantsEarly Immigrants:: student and (female) student and (female) domestic help domestic help e.g. A. Clarke and e.g. A. Clarke and May in “Running for my Life”May in “Running for my Life”

Three factors of changes in the 60’sThree factors of changes in the 60’s Canadian immigration lawsCanadian immigration laws Great Britain was closing its doors; Great Britain was closing its doors;

deterioration of racial relationships deterioration of racial relationships therethere

the steady decline of the British the steady decline of the British economyeconomy

Caribbean Immigrants in Canada: Caribbean Immigrants in Canada:

Background (2) Background (2) ----TorontoToronto Ideal of multiculturalism vs. reality of racisIdeal of multiculturalism vs. reality of racis

mm Ethnic Areas in Toronto CityEthnic Areas in Toronto City: Bloor Street, : Bloor Street,

Little Italy, Chinatown, Cabbagetown, etc. (seLittle Italy, Chinatown, Cabbagetown, etc. (see e mapmap) )

differential incorporation; e.g. housing, saldifferential incorporation; e.g. housing, salary (83% of Caribbeans’ yearly income fallary (83% of Caribbeans’ yearly income falls under 25,000)s under 25,000)

direct racism: e.g. police brutality (e.g. Mr. direct racism: e.g. police brutality (e.g. Mr. Johnson in “Running” 78)Johnson in “Running” 78)

Downtown Toronto

East End --East End -- the Don Valley Parkway –the route the commutethe Don Valley Parkway –the route the commute

rs take to go downtown. “Few find any reason to rs take to go downtown. “Few find any reason to stop in the east end, one of the poorest neighborstop in the east end, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city.” hoods in the city.”

To the north is To the north is Regent ParkRegent Park. In the 1940's, block. In the 1940's, blocks of poorly maintained houses were demolished s of poorly maintained houses were demolished and replaced by Canada's first major public housand replaced by Canada's first major public housing project. Although it was much praised on its ing project. Although it was much praised on its completion in 1957, it quickly went downhill, and completion in 1957, it quickly went downhill, and now 72% of the residents live below the poverty lnow 72% of the residents live below the poverty line. (source: ine. (source: http://www.boldts.net/TorZ.shtmlhttp://www.boldts.net/TorZ.shtml ) )

Caribbean Immigrants in Canada (3)Caribbean Immigrants in Canada (3): :

Multiple Voices Multiple Voices House party (fete) and CaribanaHouse party (fete) and Caribana

As means of strengthening a sense of community; As means of strengthening a sense of community; the venues for illegal activitiesthe venues for illegal activities

MulticulturalismMulticulturalism Brand against it: Brand against it: 布松達認為多元文化政策造成布松達認為多元文化政策造成「一種加拿大式的、溫和的、文化種族隔離政策」「一種加拿大式的、溫和的、文化種族隔離政策」(Hutcheon 315);(Hutcheon 315); 布蘭德也認為它將加勒比海裔分布蘭德也認為它將加勒比海裔分隔開來，「沒有處理真正的〔政治、經濟上〕的權隔開來，「沒有處理真正的〔政治、經濟上〕的權力問題」力問題」 (Hutcheon 274)(Hutcheon 274) 。。

Austin Clarke thinks that the immigrants are partly Austin Clarke thinks that the immigrants are partly responsible for their failures. responsible for their failures.

The Two Stories The Two Stories

How are they different from each other? How are they different from each other? Do we find similar cases of both in Do we find similar cases of both in

Taiwan?Taiwan?

Austin Clarke Austin Clarke

Born in Born in Barbados in 1934Barbados in 1934 and came and came to Canada to attend university in 1955. to Canada to attend university in 1955. He has had a varied and distinguished He has had a varied and distinguished career as a broadcaster, civil rights leacareer as a broadcaster, civil rights leader, and professor.der, and professor.

Clarkes has dealt extensively with the Clarkes has dealt extensively with the lack of roots and ruins in the lives of imlack of roots and ruins in the lives of immigrants in Canada, and the consequemigrants in Canada, and the consequent damage to the nt damage to the psychological and psychological and emotional healthemotional health of these men and w of these men and women. (Harney 131) omen. (Harney 131)

"I'm Running for My Life""I'm Running for My Life"

What kind of domestic maid is May? What What kind of domestic maid is May? What does she do at the beginning of the story? does she do at the beginning of the story? What is she afraid of? (e.g. p. 81)What is she afraid of? (e.g. p. 81)

Towards the end of the story, May goes Towards the end of the story, May goes tearfully to her friend Gertrude to confess her tearfully to her friend Gertrude to confess her "sin," about which she feels both scared and "sin," about which she feels both scared and good. Gertrude, on the other hand, claims good. Gertrude, on the other hand, claims that it is a sexual assault that May that it is a sexual assault that May experiences. What do you think? What do experiences. What do you think? What do you think Clarke wants to convey here? you think Clarke wants to convey here?

Two InterpretationsTwo Interpretations

May's explanation: pp. 88-89 --adultery; May's explanation: pp. 88-89 --adultery; newness and love in her. the thought of newness and love in her. the thought of murder the night before (p. 92); Indian murder the night before (p. 92); Indian blanket 92; 82-83 blanket 92; 82-83

Gertrude's responses -- concern for her Gertrude's responses -- concern for her own work; 94; master and slave 95own work; 94; master and slave 95

May's contradictory feelings May's contradictory feelings toward her mastertoward her master

Why does she feel guilty in the bedroom: Why does she feel guilty in the bedroom: Covetousness? Theft? Dishonoring?Covetousness? Theft? Dishonoring? Christian way of thinking Christian way of thinking trying on the mistress’ dresses and pantyhose p. trying on the mistress’ dresses and pantyhose p.

7777 Answering a phone callAnswering a phone call Curious about the book, Curious about the book, The Joy of SexThe Joy of Sex

Fear of the house: its emptiness and Fear of the house: its emptiness and coldness, like a tomb; a presencecoldness, like a tomb; a presence

Loyalty, pity and sympathy for the manLoyalty, pity and sympathy for the man Desire for him & feeling desired pp. 79; 80Desire for him & feeling desired pp. 79; 80

Mr. Moore’s Views of MayMr. Moore’s Views of May

appreciative of her, but neglectful p. 80-appreciative of her, but neglectful p. 80-81; 81;

sexual desire for a colored woman 86sexual desire for a colored woman 86 sense of deficiency p. 87 sense of deficiency p. 87 need re- need re-

invigoration invigoration

Contrast between May and Contrast between May and GertrudeGertrude

May– weak in need of help; relies on May– weak in need of help; relies on external supports such as frying pan and external supports such as frying pan and house slipper;house slipper;

Gertrude – jumps into conclusion. But is Gertrude – jumps into conclusion. But is she totally wrong? she totally wrong?

Ironies Ironies

Mr. Moore,Mr. Moore, too weak, too invigorated; peace, wanting to too weak, too invigorated; peace, wanting to

diedie the words “Confidential” “Pictures” “Photos” the words “Confidential” “Pictures” “Photos”

“Term Papers” “Term Papers” signs of memory and signs of memory and powerpower

May: tears p. 96 May: tears p. 96 a controlled woman a controlled woman unable to see her submission to power or unable to see her submission to power or her own power. her own power.

Dionne BrandDionne Brand 布蘭德自稱為是非精英份子布蘭德自稱為是非精英份子 (non-elite)(non-elite) ，女，女

同性戀者和馬克斯主義者同性戀者和馬克斯主義者

• 布蘭德自稱「逃離」家鄉的，因為當時在千里達她身為一個女孩很受限制 (所以她也是逃離 femininity﹔ Silvera 361-63) 。但對她而言，她既不住在「那裡」 (千里達 )，也不住在這裡 (加拿大 )，而是在兩者之中 (Birbalsingh 1996: 122) 。

Dionne BrandDionne Brand

Biographical Sketch --fyiBiographical Sketch --fyi

1953 Born in Trinidad1953 Born in Trinidad 1970 immigrated to Canada1970 immigrated to Canada 1970s-80s community worker in Toronto1970s-80s community worker in Toronto 1983 Information Officer for the Caribbean 1983 Information Officer for the Caribbean

People’s Development Agencies and the People’s Development Agencies and the Agency for Rural Transformation in GrenadaAgency for Rural Transformation in Grenada

1997 won the Governor General’s Award for 1997 won the Governor General’s Award for Poetry and the Trillium Award for Poetry and the Trillium Award for Land to Light Land to Light OnOn

A communist who believes in equal distribution A communist who believes in equal distribution of wealth and ending exploitationof wealth and ending exploitation

Founded and edited Founded and edited Our LivesOur Lives, Canada’s first , Canada’s first black women’s newspaperblack women’s newspaper

Brand--Writer and FilmmakerBrand--Writer and Filmmaker

A few examples: A few examples: Sans Souci and other StoriesSans Souci and other Stories (1988) (1988) No Language is NeutralNo Language is Neutral (1990) (1990) Sisters in StruggleSisters in Struggle (1991)--film (1991)--film Long Time Comin'Long Time Comin' (1993)—film (1993)—film Listening for SomethingListening for Something (1996)--film (1996)--film In Another Place, Not HereIn Another Place, Not Here (1997)--novel (1997)--novel Land To Light OnLand To Light On (1997) (1997) At the Full and Change of the Moon--novelAt the Full and Change of the Moon--novel

Oya—Goddess of Thunder and Oya—Goddess of Thunder and Cemetery Cemetery

“Oya is the divinity that guards the cemetery. More specifically she protects the souls of the departed as they journey onward. Oya is viewed as a warrior with great strength. She stands well on her own, but is usually in the company of her counterpart Shango. Oya is also recognized for her psychic abilities which manifest in the winds. She is the deity of the storm and hurricanes. Oya is often seen as the deity of death, but upon deeper realization, she is the deity of rebirth as things must die so that new beginnings arise.” (27)

Baba Ifa KaradeBaba Ifa Karade, The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Co, The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Conceptsncepts

““Blossom”Blossom”Do you find the story fantastic or unreal?

If so, why? Are the characters believable or stereoptyed?

Why does Blossom marry Victor?Why does Brand invoke the Yoruba orish

a Oya in “Blossom”? Are there any similar attributes between Oya and Blossom?

What is the significance of Blossom’s dream of fighting with suffering? (p. p. 269)? (p. p. 269)

Brand and Black TraditionBrand and Black Tradition

Brand writing for the absence (of writings about Brand writing for the absence (of writings about black people)—conscious efforts to create a black people)—conscious efforts to create a black diasporic tradition + “the new wave of black diasporic tradition + “the new wave of Canadian writing” (270)Canadian writing” (270)

The Origin of “Blossom”The Origin of “Blossom” “That story is based on fact: I met this woman run

ning a basement speakeasy in her house, and she had run the speakeasy for years and years. She was a Jamaican woman without a single tooth in the front of her mouth, and she would throw people out who were drunk. Also one day I saw an old man xeroxing something. I thought I'd read over his shoulder and it was all these little potions he was preparing for people. He was an obeah man and that was obeah gone modern tech. It's interesting how our people could come here and adapt things that used to work for them somewhere else so that they work for them here too.” Interview wit Interview with Frank Birbalsinghh Frank Birbalsingh

Blossom and AfircanismBlossom and AfircanismGoing back to the African past for

strength— “She had to dig into that past of hers which she retained; she became an Obeah woman because that was one the things that black people in the Americas managed to retain, some sense of a past that is not a past controlled by those things that seem to control her now.” (273)

Oral style in “Blossom”Oral style in “Blossom”

Blossom the Woman Blossom the Woman WarriorWarrior

Blossom’s “buoyancy” and her language (276)

Fighting against white racism (264)—sexual assault from the white master and the distrust of the white mistress—picketed against the white oppression—slogans from the black power movement (264)

Blossom and Gender IssueBlossom and Gender Issue

Not only criticizing (white) men—closeness to girl friends but gets cheated by Fancy Girl (the pyramid scheme)

Once deserted by a man (263)Loneliness, hard work—resigning to traditional

thinking about love relationship (267) resignation—but takes initiative in choosing her man—decide to take Victor--later fighting against Victor’s exploitation (265-6))

Blossom’s Fight with SufferingBlossom’s Fight with Suffering

Personification and allegory (269)—a Personification and allegory (269)—a battle with oppression, against black battle with oppression, against black suffering—fighting with “hate” and trisuffering—fighting with “hate” and triumphsumphs

Death and rebirth—getting into Oya’s Death and rebirth—getting into Oya’s womb—dance of “Freeness”womb—dance of “Freeness”

Blossom becomes Oya’s priestess anBlossom becomes Oya’s priestess and speaks in tonguesd speaks in tongues