Tag Archives: youth

Joseph Zobel, Black Shack Alley

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The early 20th-century French Caribbean island of Martinique serves as the setting for Joseph Zobel’s book Black Shack Alley. The story revolves around José, a young child of mixed ethnic background, and his struggle to define himself in a world defined by racism, colonialism, and social injustice. The book tracks José’s early life and development during his upbringing. At first, reading about his early years was endearing since it described how he played with the other kids and the conversation was genuinely upbeat. Reading about the interactions between the kids and how they shared meals was energizing. I understood the value of education, particularly at the time when it came to the Black community. 

The majority of Martinique’s black population lives in the segregated Black Shack Alley slum, where José was raised in poverty at the beginning of the book. José, who was raised by his grandmother M’man, struggles with understanding his dual racial identities. Because of his heritage of mixed race, he faces prejudice from both the white and mulatto populations, which further alienates him. When I reflect on Joseph Zobel’s “Black Shack Alley,” the concept of the individual seeking freedom from societal constraints strikes me. 

Young José’s path captures the enigma that many people especially the marginalized face while attempting to find their own voice and affirmation in a society where the rules are designed to keep them out. Despite the adversity he faces, José harbors aspirations for a better life, longing to escape the cycle of poverty and oppression. Similar to Silvio from Mad Toy, they both try to break the ‘norm’ that was originally set for them. José becomes more conscious of the structural inequalities that support inequality in Martinique as he gets older. The striking contrast between the magnificent colonial mansions and the dilapidated huts of Black Shack Alley symbolizes the separation he sees between the wealthy white elite and the impoverished black masses. Zobel uses poetic words and vivid imagery to capture the vibrant culture and lush surroundings of Martinique throughout the entire story. He depicts a vibrantly nuanced picture of a nation in transition, attempting to move past the scars of its colonial history and toward a more just future. José’s quest ultimately amounts to self-realization and resiliency. He refuses to let society’s constraints define him despite the challenges he encounters. Rather than following the crowd, he forges his route, determined to make a better life for himself and his loved ones, and in the end, he finds a sense of purpose and belonging among the chaos of Black Shack Alley.

Question for the class:  Would his upbringing have been easier and less adversity if he were entirely of black descent? Additionally, why does society instinctively impose restrictions on individuals based on their race?

Thoughts on Roberto Arlt, Mad Toy

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In contrast to Proust’s “Combray,” which I found to be longer and more difficult to read, this week’s reading was Roberto Arlt’s “Mad Toy.”  I connected more deeply with “Mad Toy.” I couldn’t help but consider the difficulties individuals, particularly those from the working class, experience on a daily basis. I had the impression that Silvio Astier, a young, disillusioned man living in Buenos Aires in the 1920s, was confessing while I read this novel. In his account of his experiences and observations, Silvio offers an unvarnished viewpoint on the social and economic divide, political corruption, and the chaotic character of metropolitan life. We are informed that Silvio surrounded himself with book lovers and grew up surrounded by books. He attempts to make it in the real world using concepts gleaned from literature. Silvio’s adolescence, during which he becomes enmeshed in a world of crime and rebellion. Silvio establishes a club with his friends, first for amusement, but soon the club members start committing thefts, which vary from taking books and reselling them to stealing lightbulbs. Along with other dejected young people, he creates a gang and takes part in small-time thefts and other crimes. The story captures the social instability and dissatisfaction that characterized that era in Argentina. Arlt addresses how societal expectations and financial hardships shape young people’s behavior and push them in the direction of anarchy and rebellion through Silvio’s character. 

After their group split up, he stated that “life is made up of meetings and partings” which to me seems like a level of maturity and growth, Silvio attempts an alternative strategy to get out of poverty (I will discuss how I personally relate to this later in this post). He begins his job search. any kind of labor. As long as it was not against the law, he was cool with everything. Silvio’s mother begs him to begin working because things are getting worse for their family every day. Silvio used to work at a bookstore, and I thought it was unusual that he had to live with his bosses and work around the clock that is, until he tried to set the place on fire. Silvio had trouble landing a lasting job.

I stated earlier that I’ll mention how Silvio and his friend group split connects to me and is also a sign of growth. I have experienced having to split groups multiple times in my life. The first time was when I initially moved from Nigeria to Canada, I left all my childhood friends behind. Another time when I split up with a group was after graduating high school, all my friends got into different universities and chased different goals. 

Question for the class…how hard do you think it is to break up from a friend group you grew up in? And how does it affect an individual mentally?

Thanks for reading!