However, it is not until reading the excerpts from Merle Hodges, Rose and Kiniry, Edward Kamau, Bruthwaite, and Catherine A. Sunshine, that these changes become evident when analyzing Senior’s story. Rose and Kiniry, in their exert on Caribbean literature and cultural politics, touch upon many historical facts that may help explain why senior wrote “The Two Grandmothers” the way he did. In 1493, Columbus became thefirst European colonizer, with the establishment of a Spanish settlement on the island he
named Hispaniola (now known as Haiti and the Dominican
Republic). And, in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, in the European struggle for power and
territory, the Carib and Arawak Indians were driven
off their lands or eliminated. In the seventeen
century when slaves were needed to work the lands, the
Spanish became the first to import African slaves to
the Caribbean. Thus a barrier was formed between the
blacks and Europeans. However, over the time, as
races began to mix, special powers and privileges were
given to those who were of a lighter skin tone.
As the slaves were emancipated, and the Caribbean
moved into independence the social status of black
people did not improve much. In fact, people of a
lighter pigment still ran the economy. Free of
European influences, it appeared that the Caribbean
would now be able to discover its true identity. But
according to Hodges, it would not be long till the
Caribbean found itself in a new and more vicious era
of cultural penetration. With the introduction of TV,
referred to as a “Trojan Horse”, in 1962, the same
year that the British flag was pulled down, American
culture spread throughout the Caribbean, influencing a
majority of the community. Thus as a direct result,
the Caribbean society was split even further as the
old ways of the islands contrasted from the American
Culture.
Grandma Del, as portrayed by the narrator, is
symbolized as living the life of the old Caribbean
culture. In a comment made by the narrator near the
end of the story, it is made apparent that Grandma Del
and everyone that lives around her is black. But in
considering her skin color, one can only begin to
wonder whether she chooses to live the life of the old
Caribbean, or if she is held behind by society.
According to Hodges, in the old Caribbean culture the
head of the family could be male or female, and legal
marriage was not mandatory. Thus, this would explain
why Grandma Del was not married when she bore the
narrator’s father. In taking the narrator to Church,
the little girl was introduced to the religion of her
Grandma’s class. Although this does not seem odd,
Sunshine’s excerpt on The Caribbean: Survival,
Struggle, and Sovereignty, claims that religion is
closely linked to class. Like religion, the way in
which a person speaks is also related to their social
class.
Grandma Elaine, also known as Towser, is the exact
opposite of Grandma Del. In fact she lives an
American way of life. Through the narrator’s
interaction with Grandma Del, Towser is presented in a
completely different way. As stated above, color
plays an important role in determining the amount of
power a person possesses. Thus, due to Towser’s light
complexion, it is only natural that she lives a better
life than Grandma Del. Much like Americans, Towser
believes in a “real” family, which according to Hodges
consists of a husband, wife, and children. Spending
hours a day maintaining her beauty, Towser has been
able to marry several times and acquire much wealth.
Towser is so American, that she did not hold God in
high regard.
Section I of Senior’s story, “The Two Grandmothers,”
is based on the first summer that the little girl
spends with her Grandma Del. Throughout this whole
section the little girl talks about how much she is
impressed with Grandma’s house. Due to the fact that
the little girl was raised in a “real” family, as
presented by Hodges, the little girl did not
understand why Grandma Del had no pictures of her
grandfather. Later in the section the girl talks
about how happy she is to go to Church, especially
since Grandma Del made three dresses and a hat for
her. The little girl even admires the fact that
Grandma Del has no electricity, nor a TV.
Section II presents the little girls interactions
with Grandma Elaine. Like Grandma Del, the little
girl admires her Grandma Elaine. But in telling
Grandma Elaine, “you shouldn’t paint your face like
that you know, it is written in the bible and it is a
sin Grandma Del says so…” Grandma Elaine responded,
“Grandmother Del is a country bumpkin of the deepest
waters.” Grandma Elaine proceeded in talking about
how bad her hair is, and how the little girl
embarrasses her when speaking. Despite being
introduced to some culture barriers, the girl still
loves both of her Grandma’s dearly. However it is in
this section that the little girl begins to question
whether dark is bad.
In section III, the little girl returns to her
Grandma Del’s house. At this point in the story, the
little girl still admires her grandma immensely. But
in the first half of this section, the little girl
talks about her best friend from the country, Pearlie.
Due to the fact that Pearlie lives in a small house,
and has to baby-sit all day the little girl asks her
mom if they could adopt her. Once again, the girl is
proud that everyone remembered her at Church. However
this time, the little girl told her mom that, “they
don’t speak properly as we do.” It could be inferred
at this point that the little girl has begun to pick
up aspects of the American culture.
Unlike the three sections before, section 4 reveals
to the reader that the reader is tending to favor
Grandma Elaine. In fact, the little Girl says that
she must take care of her skin and work out so she can
be as beautiful as Towser. The little girl also
desires to get her hair relaxed, and to get a training
braw because everyone else is getting one.
Section V presents the little girl in a new light.
Now, as an older girl the narrator doesn’t desire to
go to Grandma Del’s house, because she claims it is
boring. The girl finds some way to complain about
everything: She hates the walk to church; she would be
ruined if a parent saw her walking with the country
bumpkins; Grandma doesn’t allow me to watch all my
shows. The little girl in one statement says, “There
is nobody but black people where Grandma lives and
they don’t know anything.” At this point in the
story, the girl appears to be more conceded and has
placed herself above those who are darker than
herself.
In Section VI the tides are turned on the girl, as
her cousin, Maureen, calls her a “goddamn nigger.”
The girl now begins to question how she can be
beautiful if her skin is so dark. At the end of the
story the little girl says that she is so ashamed of
her, and simply can’t go back to Clearwater.
In Section VII the girl, as an adolescent, refuses to
return to Grandma Del’s house. It could be said that
at this point in her life, the girl sees Grandma Del
as an inferior. If it were possible, the girl would
probably never go visit her Grandma Del. But in order
to reach a compromise the girl suggests that the
family has lunch with Grandma Del so they can be done
with her for the year.
As one may see, culture plays a major role in the
development of an individual. The little girl who
once loved both Grandmas dearly, now favors the
Americanized grandma, Towser. The Caribbean has
changed drastically since the introduction of the
American culture. Unfortunately, they too have lost a
sense of their true identity in the process. Due to
the fact that cultural politics govern our day-to-day
lives, it is imminent that a person, let alone
country, discovers their true identity, or like the
Caribbean, they become more susceptible to change.h
