Similarities Between Desiree's Baby And The Passing Of Grandison

Whether your religious or non-religious, this passage has proven throughout history how

our environment, beginning with our parents, shapes our identity influencing the many decisions

we make in life. The argument of what shapes the personality of a person comes to play. Is

genes that shapes a person’s personality? Are personalities formed through hereditary traits? Is

the environment we live in is a primary tie to our personality? In “Desiree’s Baby” and “The

Passing of Grandison”, we see characters in an environment of slavery and how racism is a bias

decision that blinded many.

Since Ancient Egypt, slaves have played a part in shaping history, giving power to those

who used oppression to increase their status in the world. Those

of African descent, till this day,
has experienced the most pain and suffering. In America, blacks have been used, sold, mistreated
and killed because they were viewed differently. This view however is one that is a decision
which is made through influences sowed into the growth of many as something right.

“Desiree’s Baby is a story which follows Desiree, who experiences love and suffers the

consequences of being viewed different from those who viewed themselves superior to those of

different skin. Even with a questionable background, Desiree was taken in and loved by the

Valmondes; a white, wealthy French couple unable to produce children. Later when Desiree

becomes an adult she falls in love with Armand Aubigny and has a child. In the beginning, we

see Armand’s character of a harsh master change to a loving husband who softens his hard

manners. However, the character drastically changes when his child reaches 3 months and

begins to darken. Armand soon returns to his hard-cold state and accuses Desiree of not being

white. In the end, its revealed that Armand mother belonged to the race that is cursed with the

brand of slavery and he was decent of the color he despised.

“The Passing of Granderson” follows Dick Owens and his slave, Grandison, as they

travel north. To prove he is capable of heroic deeds to win the affection of Charity Lomax, Dick

decided to take one of his father’s, Colonel Owens, slaves and set him free. His plan is

thwarted
when placed with his father’s most trusted slave, Grandison. Being extremely loyal to the
Colonel, Grandison is shown to be resilient to any opportunities and suggestions of freedom
brought to him by Dick during the trip. Soon enough, after the kidnapping and return of
Grandison, it is revealed that the slave out smarted his masters as he and his family escaped
captivity.
These stories reveal how racist views are based on decision and emotions, not something
that is genetically engineered. From “Desire’s Baby”, Monsieur and Madame Valmonde took in
Desiree as their own even with a questionable origin, as the author implies a possibility of her
being of African descent. Through her mother’s letter we see that she was loved and accepted
even if she was accused of being black. Another character in the story is revealed to accept color,
Armand’s father. In his mother’s letter which reveals his lineage, it is shown that his father had
knowledge and accepted because of his love for her. Because Armand’s parent’s choice in hiding
his past to protect him from humiliation, he came to accept racist beliefs and in turn destroyed a
potential future for himself.
Early in “The Passing of Grandison”, there is a trial of an abolitionist who tried to help a
slave of an abusive slave owner. The abolitionist is put to death as martyr however it is shown
that Charity admires the act, creative the drive to Dick’s mission to be heoric. Viewing this we
can see that Charity is aware that slavery is wrong and can understand that the color of skin
should not depict harmful actions to people.
There are many ways to see how an individual’s personality can be shaped. These two
stories show how it is possible for discrimination and segregation to be ignored and the love with
acceptance of color is possible.

The belief that the environment continues to mold a personality

after conception comes true showing us that we are not limited to just genetics.

For the point of how racism is a proven “nurture” not “nature” aspect an example I would

like to bring is from a movie about a man who became the first African American to play in

Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson.

Being highly segregated, at the time, the African-Americans and whites played in

separate leagues. Robinson, who played in the Negro Leagues, was chosen by Branch Rickey,

president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, to help integrate the leagues. In 1946, He joined the all-white

Montreal Royals, a farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and later moved to Florida to start

spring training. Robinson endured, when confronted with racism, throughout the beginning of his

career. Even with the objection of having an African-American on their team. The taunts from

crowds in the stands and threats to his family. He was able to continue playing focusing only on

the game. Robinson's teammate Harold Peter Henry comes to understand what kind of

pressure Robinson is facing, and makes a public show of support in front of a hostile

crowd.
In the movie, there was scene where a confused child was watching his father berate
Robinson. Following suit, the child began doing the same not fully understanding why.
This shows how whether right or wrong, our parents can easily influence their children. When
we are young we are not aware of the importance of race. Children are open to make friends with
other children. All they want to do is play and have fun. A psychological change occurs when
difference is pointed out and a child is being told negative things. They decide that what is being
said is true and in term view them separate from those viewed different.
Eventually, the league was able to get past separation thanks to Branch Ricky and Harold
Peter Henry who came to understand that it was wrong to view others lesser than yourself.
With this information, we can see through these stories that compassion and acceptance
are part of basic human emotions. Segregation and discrimination has been around for a long
time. All cases were not part of how one is born but how one is raised, shaping how who we will
eventually become. History was already set and we cannot change what has happened, but
acceptance is key for us to change the future.