Mentality Of Slavery

“Simone de Beauvoir’s classic statement that “woman is made, not born” remains a fair summary of the claims that gender is socially constructed, not biologically determined”. As we watch Lee morph from a more “masculine” look at the club to a “feminine” one as she rides on the bus, it is obvious that those social constructs are massively at work in her life and most especially in her family of origin. As aforementioned, the idea that a pretty ruffled sweater is going to actually change Lee’s sexual identity is as ridiculous as trying to make a cat bark. Her mother Audrey is stuck within those same constructs and is unable to break free or let go of what it is society and culture has told her to be. She too has lost her sense of self and

As Lee acknowledges being gay, we see Audrey rage at her with a “vengeance is mine says the Lord” type of attitude and in the only course of action she understands.
This behavior is not exclusive to black families, but much of the research done, proves that the language of slavery has been and is still being maintained throughout the black community.
In the book “Brain Damage: The Slave Mentality of African Americans“, author C. R. Brown explores the impact of systematic slavery and clearly denotes the affects it has had and continues to have on the black community. This is not to say extreme discipline doesn’t exist in other cultural settings, but it is specific to those who are black and sadly something we see expressed in this film. “But we are programmed through the societal experiences of our parents, grandparents, enslaved ancestors to behave in a certain manner, which is consistent with being inferior to Caucasians and the ‘system’ is set up for us to fail if we attempt to progress. In relation to slavery an ancestors, the mental and physical conditioning and treatment of the slaves taught them to feel

How tragic and sad to see such rage towards one’s own child and yet, it is not uncommon when it comes to coming out to your family of origin. Shame is the name of the game and if you do not fit into the norm, you are creating even more obstacles for yourself as you go up against the white establishment.
Following this violent and tragic event, we see Lee emerge from her own chrysalis.
The heartbreak and shaming has given her a new creative energy and an awareness that provides her a canvas to write her own treatise. One that is beautifully relayed to her writing teacher in the final minutes of this film. One cannot help but be moved as we hear her read these words:
“Heartbreak opens onto the sunrise for even breaking is opening and I am broken, I am open. Broken into the new life without pushing in, open to the possibilities within, pushing out. See the love shine in through my cracks? See the light shine out through me? I am broken, I am open, I am broken open. See the love light shining through me, shining through my cracks, through the gaps. My spirit takes journey, my spirit takes flight, could not have risen otherwise and I am not running, I am choosing. Running is not a choice from the breaking. Breaking is freeing, broken is freedom. I am not broken, I am