Racism

Racism is the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races and the discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race. It is unfortunately part of our history and although the civil rights movement has ended, these feeling of hate, even if the individual fails to recognize it, are still existent in the world. Racism is presented in The Glass Castle from the perspective of a Southern setting in the 1960s. Racism is an ever growing issue that is fed by people such as Erma. Although this issue does not seem as relevant as those of poverty and alcoholism, it is important to understand how these unwarranted feeling of hatred toward the black race dominated some individuals lives while some could rise above the apparent differences to bond on an higher level. Obviously, we still have this division today.


Although Jeanette Walls was not coddled as a child or protected, her parents did instill some moral values that made her a better person than most upon their arrival in Welch, West Virginia. She, unlike the others, would help a person of any race and try to make friends with anyone who would accept her; she was one of the few who looked beyond appearance. When Dinitia invites her to go swimming with "us", meaning other black people, Jeanette feels like she's violating some unspoken code but goes along anyway. Dinitia tells her that the black people don't mind, it’s the white people who would have a problem with it as Jeanette finds out when the white clerk at the pool stares her down in shock. The pool was not segregated; the people segregated themselves to make their lives easier. With their own race, each group was more comfortable and avoided any form of confrontation. Each race lived their lives in fear of the other and would try to avoid impending problems. Although black people were only afraid because they knew the white people were afraid of them and would use any means necessary to keep themselves separated.


The most powerful proof of hatred this book can supply is the use of language. The raw uncensored vocabulary, even in front of children, that both Erma and Stanley use is full of anger and disrespect. They refer to the area of town were most black people live as "Niggerville" and that foul term is repeated to express their extreme abhorrence. Stanley refuses to let his friend drive Jeanette to that area of town for his reputation's sake. He would not want to be viewed as someone compassionate toward black people so he forced his young niece to walk there herself because she, even at such as young age, was a better person than he could ever hope to be. Yet even worse than Stanley's feelings are Erma's, the "poster woman" for white supremacy; she goes above and beyond to isolate herself from a world that allows the black race to exist. She does not leave her house for fifteen years. She keeps the blinds drawn as the black neighborhood creeps closer and closer to her house. She would sooner die than see or be seen by a black person. She blames them for everything and claims they are the reason for the downfall of the "once respectable" Welch area. She blames all her problems in life on the black community and we as readers are able to see the difference in opinion each family possesses based on their morals and the area from which they came.


In times like this when Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting for black equality and the response from the white community was full of hatred with KKK, it was surprising to see a little white girl not swayed by the violent feelings that surrounded her. She never lied to make her life easier, she never said no to going to pool because of what others might think, she knew the difference between right and wrong, and she let everyone know that. When Dinitia first asks "You think you're better than us?" (139) Jeanette replies "No...I think we're all equal" (139). When Erma offensively uses the "N" word over and over while lecturing Jeanette on the dangers of being a "nigger lover" Jeanette has the courage to tell her grandmother that she's not supposed use such offensive language. “Mom says they’re just like us...except they have different complexions.”(143). Jeanette's alone in the world of Welch and very few people believed her, listened to her, and took her seriously. There was so much unnecessary hatred in that town that all the citizens, of both races, just accepted. They each went their separate ways and tried to live normal lives along unspoken schedules to avoid each other. All that hard work to desegregate schools, bathrooms, water fountains, and all public areas had been done for nothing because white people still felt superior and the races still found way to separate themselves no matter what the law. Racism was and is a huge issue. Our government can establish as many laws and amendments as if deems necessary but racism will still exist because there are still Erma's in the world but hopefully there are more Jeanette’s that can break the chain.