Next Section Symbols, Allegory and Motifs Previous Section Quotes How To Cite in MLA Format Anonymous 'God Help the Child Study Guide: Analysis'. Will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback. In the opening paragraph of God Help the Child, Toni Morrison gives voice to Sweetness, a woman describing herself as 'light-skinned with good hair, what we call high yellow,' who gives birth to a child with very dark skin. You can help us out by revising, improving and updatingĪfter you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. This article relates to God Help the Child. Sweetness's name is an ironic reminder of this shame, because she is so ashamed of Bride that she literally refuses to let her own daughter call her 'Mom,' making her call her Sweetness instead, as if there is anything sweet about it. The argument against racism is plainly obvious, but one could argue that the novel is really attempting to instill pride in the Black community so that growing children aren't made to adopt the shame that defines Bride's experience. Bride's blue-black skin is an obvious sign she will not thrive in this world. Since racism prevents people of color from being treated as equal human beings, the community has grown to associate lighter skin with more favorable treatment. Bride also starts to hate herself, because her parents reinforce the bigoted points of view that are available in their broader community. The novel asks the reader to consider why these people should hate their blackness, and offers Bride as an explanation. Because they take pride in being light-skinned, their child represents the part of their selves they are most ashamed of. So when seeking to understand what her character represents, and what a fair analysis of the plot might be, a good starting point might be to consider Bride as the aspect of her parents that they are ashamed of. Written by people who wish to remain anonymousīride is literally the product of her parents' marriage, whether they like it not. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

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God Help the Child by Toni Morrison