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Identity In 'Caucasia' By Danzy Senna

932 Words4 Pages

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” (George R.R. Martin) I like this quote because it pertains to the novel Caucasia by Danzy Senna. In the novel, Birdie who is the main character is growing up and trying to be aware of this idea of race and her identity. She is bi racial and her identity is formed by how others perceive her. Caucasia illustrates Birdies confusion with her identity differences and race that is seen through her viewpoint. The confusion of Birdies identity that is infused within her is due to signals or messages from the communities because of her white skin. She does not understand …show more content…

Birdie trys to gain her fathers attention while exploring her own identity. Birdie is shoved away when Deck gets a new brown girlfriend. When Carmen takes Cole to get her hair done, she is forced to bring Birdie along. Carmen is introducing Cole to the hair stylist, “Carmen turned to me and frowned. Then looking back at the man, she said, ‘Yeah, thats Cole’s little sister, even though she doesn’t look like a sister’ ‘’(p.93). This shows the sort of discrimination that goes on inside a family like this. Even though Birdie is really Coles sister, Carmen has sort of a disgust with her. Carmen frowns upon Birdie because of her white skin, and doesn’t care for her. She puts her attention more towards Cole because of her dark skin feature. This discrimination also shows up later in the book with Sandys Mother. Birdie, Cole and Sandy are all over at their grandmas house. The only questions that are being asked are towards either Sandy or Birdie. Now in this situation the tables turn and there is love in the air for Birdie and not Cole. Their Grandma asks “ ‘Sandy, what kind of place is Birdie going to?’ I noticed she hadn’t asked about Cole. She didn’t care what kind of school Cole was going to. Their Grandma represents the whiteness factor inside this era. The different types of treatment towards Cole and Birdie show prejudicial beliefs within them that are shaped by the society. White people who live in this era believe themselves as a neutral race. Birdie believes that black people are the norm and white people are the

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