Analysis Of Ann Petry's The Street

In Ann Petry’s The Street, Lutie Johnson is an amicable African American woman as she navigates through a hard life of poverty and motherhood. With regards to Black Feminist Theory, Petry’s illustration of the fictional Lutie Johnson hits hard on the concept that there is an intersectional oppression regarding race and gender, and how this oppression simultaneously assaults both womanhood and racial identity. Furthermore, several characters and the neighborhood that Lutie moves into symbolizes the multiple oppressions against Lutie. African American writers such as Paula Giddings and Patricia Collins discuss the history and application of Black Feminism which directly correlates to what Petry prescribes to her readers in The Street. Overall,

Thirty-eight years after Petry’s publication of The Street, Giddings eloquently recaps the development and history of Black Feminist theory within the pages of her text. Both authors, Petry and Giddings, put the hammer to the nail at the heart of one of Black Feminism’s cores regarding race. As stated before, Lutie Johnson is an African American woman who resides in the ghetto of 1950’s Harlem. Within this ghetto formerly known as 116th street, the population mainly consists of African American women and men who reside in what is described by Lutie as depressing circumstances. “add quote” (Petry, pg ). Giddings affirms Lutie’s logic as to why Black people are disadvantaged through white supremacy. Giddings states, “add quote” (Giddings, pg ). This vicious cycle of maintaining white supremacy through the deprivation of the African American people affects Lutie and other characters such as her son, Bub, and building supervisor known as

Hedges offers a different perspective regarding sexual exploitation and African American women. Petry portrays Mrs. Hedges as the overseer of 116th street, where she watches the community from her window day and night, no matter the season nor length of time (Petry, ). Most importantly, Mrs. Hedges is a pimp who houses a few separated/ divorced women in exchange for sexual services to the public. Her relationship with these women began with Mrs. Hedges jumping at the opportunity to exploit the men who often came to visit these women seeking romance. Mrs. Hedges logic consists of, “quote” (Petry, ). Collins, a Professor of Psychology and profound author of Black Feminist Thought offers crucial insight into the interpersonal relationships between black women. For instance, Collins states, “quote” (Collins, ). Therefore, the relationship between Mrs. Hedges and her call-girls serves as a dynamic system not of oppression but perhaps cooperation to exploit the males who seek