Nordan's Use Of Body Language In Wolf Whistle

First, the language that Nordan uses throughout the novel creates a humorous atmosphere; thus, lightening the connotation associated with the terms and slang that are used. Many characters in Wolf Whistle are depicted as racists; however, because of the humor associated with the novel many degrading terms are perceived as comical rather than demeaning. All characters demonstrate actions that are perceived as humorous; “another child had cut from different colors of construction paper flamelike shapes of red and yellow and orange and black. Behind the flames Glenn’s smiling face was visible. The caption said, “‘I’m fine,’ said Glenn, ‘but boy this fire is hot!’” (4). The terms used in the get-well cards are making fun of a serious situation;

thus, this makes Glenn’s accident seem less traumatizing. Furthermore, Solon is frequently depicted as using foul language in serious situations; “Solon said, ‘Hydro, wipe that shit-eating grin off your face, or I’ll shoot you square in your big ugly head… we gone kill a n[**] Hydro said, ‘You better not, I’ll tell my daddy.’ Solon said, ‘Gimme a beer, you watermelon-headed mother f[**] gimme a pearl’… Hydro said, ‘Pearl beer got fish shit in it’” (133). This passage depicts two characters, Solon and Hydro, casually talking about the murder of an innocent child. The language used is vulgar and demeaning; however, the language creates a humorous event rather than addressing the event in a serious manner. Southern language is often depicted as comical throughout Southern literature. M. Thomas further demonstrates this idea,
those who pay close attention to their work, however, learn that they usually redeem their characters by revealing that beneath their crude exteriors and rough behavior lies a sense of dignity and belief in the possibility of redemption. Comedy moves beyond racism, sexism and filiopiety, showing them to be the genuine evils they have been in southern life and culture, and pointing the way to a moral and aesthetic catharsis through laughter. (356)
Southern language further demonstrates humorous aspects of each character. Although, humor does bring light to the evils of each character, humor reduces the implications surrounding the severe racism throughout the novel. Harriet Pollack further emphasizes the affect of language in the novel; “the cultural vocabulary that in a single breath maintains apartheid boundaries by insisting on white female purity and black male danger is coherent language, a single aggressive discourse unconfident about control of female and black” (7). Language not only creates a comical atmosphere, but also underlines the power associated with the use of certain terminology.
Furthermore, body language also enhances the humorous atmosphere.

Body language is a vital part of survival for an African American in the south during the mid-nineteenth century. Bobo is depicted as a child who is not familiar with the social expectations of the deep south, which propel Bobo to commit actions that are unacceptable; “as the Cadillac pulled away, Solon turned back to the other men in the room. He said, ‘Settin up in that-air front seat like Cock-of-the-Roost’” (39). Although, Bobo did not intend to do anything wrong by sitting in the front seat, this action infuriates Solon, which further propels him to brutally kill Bobo. The action is so small and unintentional; thus, adding to the humor of the situation. Mathew Ward outlines how humor and body language is used as a coping mechanism, “my argument suggest ways for us to reconsider more broadly laughter’s function in… literature. Though there may of course be a difference between theory and praxis, there is ample evidence to suggest that the interest shown by the writers I discuss in this article strongly suggests a wider curiosity toward and use of laughter as a mode of sympathy” (1). Although, Bobo’s actions do not implicit laughter, Nordan uses body language in a way that forces readers to laugh to cope with the social injustices that

occur.
Moreover, body language is further used to humorize social racism through the actions of Alice.

Although, Alice means well by the actions she commits, many of her actions are viewed as humorous and trivial,

they looked at Alice as if she had just escaped from the lunatic asylum at Whitfield. She might as well have been a witch in Salem. None of his bothered Alice at all. She waved her arm broadly so that Uncle might see her, the one person on earth she cared whether he saw her. She waved her arms, back and forth like a semaphore, as if from a desert island to a ship at sea. (231)

Furthermore, her actions in the courtroom accomplish nothing but making her look foolish. Alice is one of the only white people in Wolf Whistle to recognize that African Americans were being mistreated; furthermore, because she is depicted as an imbecile her actions do not have a lasting effect on those around her. Additionally, because Alice is only characterized with silly, simplistic, characteristics, her brave action of standing up in a courtroom is not viewed as brave but rather is deemed unnecessary. Humor in this passage degrades the importance of standing up for the African American race and the severe racism they faced during this

time.