Monthly Archives: February 2010

Black Girl/White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
BBC Audiobooks America, 2006
Nine hours
Finished Reading February 4, 2010

I don’t like to do this, but here’s the Indie Bound summary of this novel:

In 1975 Genna Hewett-Meade’s college roommate died a mysterious, violent death partway through their freshman year. Minette Swift had been assertive, fiercely individualistic, and one of the few black girls at their exclusive, “enlightened” college—and Genna, daughter of a prominent civil defense lawyer, felt duty-bound to protect her at all costs. But fifteen years later, while reconstructing Minette’s tragic death, Genna is forced to painfully confront her own past life and identity…and her deepest beliefs about social obligation in a morally gray world.

The summary on Amazon is similar. I’m consistently amazed when the “official” summary of a book is so different from the actual story. In this case, it’s an instance of what’s implied v. what is real; a lie of omission. I’ve been thinking of how to synopsize Black Girl/White Girl and came up with only one word: obsession. Genna, as the “daughter of a prominent civil defense lawyer,” has been raised in a white Liberal bubble, which, combined with unchecked privilege, leads to a fetishistic obsession with black culture and African-American people. When she goes off to college, she goes out of her way to live in the Scholarship dorm (with the assumption there will be more people of color) and ask for a non-white roommate. She gets Minette Swift, the daughter of a prominent Washington D.C. preacher, as a roommate, and believes that they are going to be best friends, despite a) not having anything in common with Minette, b) Minette’s outright dismissal of any attempts on Genna’s part to become friends, and c) that Genna’s sole goal is to have “a black friend,” as opposed to, say, being friends with Minette for who she is.

It is clear to the reader that Minette has no desire whatsoever to become friends with Genna, but Genna thinks it’s only because of her whiteness, and therefore no fault of her own–even though Minette shows no interest in becoming friends with the other women in their dorm, no matter their race. This refusal of friendship leads the other women to give up on friendly overtures to Minette, but Genna doesn’t take it that way. She defends Minette at all costs. Once Minette begins to be the victim of racist attacks, Genna thinks it’s her duty to protect her.

This story line is thoroughly thought provoking, but the subplot between Genna and her parents seems like a last minute add-on. I think this book would be great for a book club or discussion because of all the questions it raises. Minette is a great if ultimately, unsympathetic character, because she is not at all what one would expect–she is not the saint that Genna, and perhaps the reader, expects her to be. She is multi-dimensional without falling back on stereotypes. I think it raises a lot of important questions about white privilege, white Liberalism (yes, with a capital L), and the enduring underlying racism in progressive circles.

In summary… Be prepared to be creeped out at the end. I suggest reading this if you have someone to discuss it with afterward because it will make the reading experience much fuller.

Grade: a solid B, mostly because of the weak subplot.