Response to McBride's Black Power

Nicolette Van Duysen

September 10, 2014

English 1100

Response to “Black Power”

            In my opinion, McBride wrote the passage “Black Power,” to share with the reader his personal experience in memories that defines him. For instance, it was a well known time period and huge parts in people’s lives, and I think the author wrote this passage about his family and their history and struggles that he feels passionate about to share with us his identity. Without a doubt, this passage describes not only his but his family’s identity because, he is telling us his race and background into his childhood. For example, he starts off describing how his siblings were all different shades of black and even though they knew that their mother was white she responded back saying she was “light skinned”. When he was dealing with this confusion as to why his mother would just not admit that she was white, it becomes clear to the reader in his passion before his identity when he states, “There was something inside me, an ache I had, like a constant itch that got bigger and bigger as I grew, that told me. It was in my blood, you might say, and however the notion got there, it bothered me greatly.”(McBride 23). It was evident that it had bothered him, that he knew inside him that he was not white, so why can’t his mom just take pride in what she is?

            Furthermore, in different portions of the text McBride gives us a little insight into his people in his family’s identity as well. When he was talking about his grandmother he describes what he remembered of her as, “… an ancient black woman with a beautiful face who seemed very confused, walking around with a blue dress and a fishing pole, the bait, the tackle, and line dragging down around her ankles…”(McBride 24). In addition, he began talking about his parents identity’s and their history when he states that his mom, “… had little time for games, and even less time for identity crisis. She and my father brought a curious blend of Jewish-European and African-American distrust paranoia into our house. On his end, my father, Andrew McBride, a Baptist minister, had his doubts about the world accepting his mixed family…” (McBride 28). He goes on speaking about his parents’ identities. This shows that he is giving the reader and insight to not only his background but his families. I think he does this so the reader can see more clearly about his family background and the different racial backgrounds he grew up dealing with. Evidently, I think his racial background makes up his identity and who he is and as a reader, I was able to understand that taking in the struggles he had to go through throughout his childhood.