Marlon Brando, a world renowned actor, once said that “Privacy is not something that I'm merely entitled to, it's an absolute prerequisite” (Brando). Privacy should not be given, but privacy should be automatically had. Also, if one is not given privacy it would prohibit them from doing certain things in life. In “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird” by Toni Cade Bambara, Granny, the protagonist, Granddaddy, and the rest of their family find their privacy being breached by people taking pictures of their family, without their consent, for the food stamp program. They believe that this is unjust and that they deserve privacy. In “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird”, Bambara asserts that all people have a right to his/her privacy no matter his/her race or social class. The theme is exhibited through the use of metaphor and symbolism.
One way that Bambara exhibits the belief that all people should have privacy is through the use metaphor. Granny tells a metaphorical story about a suicidal man that
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The camera symbolises invasion of privacy as is shown in the final scene when Grandaddy confronts the cameramen and the narrator says, “Then Granddaddy’s other hand flies up like a sudden and gentle bird, slaps down fast on top of the camera and lifts off half like it was a calabash cut for sharing” (Bambara 7). Granddaddy becomes fed up with the cameramen taking pictures of their family. The camera symbolises invasion of privacy, which is evident by looking at how the camera is completely invading the family’s privacy by taking pictures of them without their permission. Grandaddy’s actions support the theme because he “slaps down” on the camera, which, by destroying the invasion of privacy, shows that he believes that they have a right to their privacy and that the cameramen are violating it. Overall, Bambara uses the camera as a symbol to support the theme that all people deserve