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Georgia and Them There United States - Literature Notes
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Velma Polard was born in Jamaica in 1937. She attended Exelsior High School, as well as the University College, now known as the University of the West Indies. She also attended McGill University and has taught in high schools and universities in Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana and the USA.
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SUMMARY
This short story is based on the reflections of June, the protagonist. The short story opens with her reading a letter that was written by her Aunt Letecia (Teach), to June's mother. Letecia reports that she has become a US citizen, and conveys her joy to be free of Jamaica, which she describes as a downgraded place. S he pities her nieces because they do not have an opportunity to leave the island, but is thankful that her daughter, Georgia, will have that chance. The scene then changes to June lying under a sour-sop tree, on a crocus bag. The reader sees her totally appreciation and love of her island home, Jamaica. The scene changes yet again. She is driving through the Bronx and is shell shocked by the ugliness and dinginess of the place that people dream of visiting. She goes to Aunt Lete9cia's office and is paraded in front of her co-workers. The true shock, however, comes when she sees her cousin Georgia. June notices that Georgia, the Georgia that she knew in Jamaica, did not exist anymore. She had been replaced by a giggling and bewigged young lady that she no longer knew. June then reflects on the 'specialness' of all things American, then decides that it is not that special after all.
SETTING
CHARACTERS
June:
Letecia Green [Teach]:
Georgia:
THEMES
Love of country:
June appreciates her island home, Jamaica. The reader sees her lying on a crocus bag, under a sour sop tree, simply appreciating the calm and peace that her island offers. She is mesmerized by the beauty of the island , as seen when she simply relaxes and appreciates the 'clustered greenery of orange trees as far as eye could see' [Pollard, 138]. Her profound love of country is seen in her statement that she knew that no city could 'claim the grass-bound, hill-bound soul of me.' [Pollard, 138].
Aunt Letecia's lack of appreciation of her island home, on the other hand, is a contrast to June's attitude to Jamaica. Aunt Letecia refers to Jamaica as a 'down-graded' [Pollard, 137] place that she is thankful that she does not have to set eyes on again. She is of the opinion that her relatives are living in misery and is grateful that her daughter will 'escape the Kingston slums.' [Pollard, 137] Ironically, the appreciation that should be accorded for her place of birth is reserved for the place that she chooses to live, the United States. Aunt Letecia's excitement over becoming an American citizen is almost tangible, and is clearly seen in her praise of central heating, snow and Coney island.
Love of self:
June's short natural hair is a testament to her confidence and love of self. She is not daunted by her Aunt Letecia's dismissal of this look. Aunt Letecia, on the other hand, hides her hair under a wig. June comments that her sister had warned her that 'in America the wig is the black woman's good-morning-white-America-how-are-you before coffee, before prayers if any, before good morning to your black mother who sleeps in the bed next to you.' [Pollard, 139]. This implies that the black woman cannot function until she hides her natural qualities. This sentiment of dismissal regarding one's birthright is accepted by Aunt Letecia, and, in turn, passed on to Georgia, who is also seen wearing a long straight wig.
Contributor: L. Samuels-Thomas
Pollard, V. 'Georgia and Them There United States' in A World of Prose, edited by David Williams and Hazel Simmons-McDonald. (Harlow, Essex) Pearson Education, 2005.
This short story is based on the reflections of June, the protagonist. The short story opens with her reading a letter that was written by her Aunt Letecia (Teach), to June's mother. Letecia reports that she has become a US citizen, and conveys her joy to be free of Jamaica, which she describes as a downgraded place. S he pities her nieces because they do not have an opportunity to leave the island, but is thankful that her daughter, Georgia, will have that chance. The scene then changes to June lying under a sour-sop tree, on a crocus bag. The reader sees her totally appreciation and love of her island home, Jamaica. The scene changes yet again. She is driving through the Bronx and is shell shocked by the ugliness and dinginess of the place that people dream of visiting. She goes to Aunt Lete9cia's office and is paraded in front of her co-workers. The true shock, however, comes when she sees her cousin Georgia. June notices that Georgia, the Georgia that she knew in Jamaica, did not exist anymore. She had been replaced by a giggling and bewigged young lady that she no longer knew. June then reflects on the 'specialness' of all things American, then decides that it is not that special after all.
SETTING
- The story occurs in Jamaica and Brooklyn, New York.
- The time period is the 1950's.
CHARACTERS
June:
- A young girl who appreciates her Jamaican heritage.
- Aunt Letecia's neice.
- Georgia's cousin.
- She is unconventional because she has short natural hair in a period when this look was, generally, unappreciated.
- She has her own perspective, and opinions, on the things that occur around her.
Letecia Green [Teach]:
- June's aunt.
- Georgia's mother.
- She does not appreciate Jamaica and views it as a 'down-graded' (Pollard, 137) place.
- She does not appreciate June's short natural hair.
- She wears a wig and appreciates all things American.
Georgia:
- Letecia's daughter.
- She lived in Jamaica with June and her family, until Aunt Letecia was able to afford her the opportunity to live in the United States.
- June describes her as 'simple' [Pollard, 140] while she was living in Jamaica.
- June then describes her as 'mad' [Pollard, 140] after she went to live in the United States.
- Georgia changes so much while in the US that her cousin, June, says that she does not recognize her.
THEMES
Love of country:
June appreciates her island home, Jamaica. The reader sees her lying on a crocus bag, under a sour sop tree, simply appreciating the calm and peace that her island offers. She is mesmerized by the beauty of the island , as seen when she simply relaxes and appreciates the 'clustered greenery of orange trees as far as eye could see' [Pollard, 138]. Her profound love of country is seen in her statement that she knew that no city could 'claim the grass-bound, hill-bound soul of me.' [Pollard, 138].
Aunt Letecia's lack of appreciation of her island home, on the other hand, is a contrast to June's attitude to Jamaica. Aunt Letecia refers to Jamaica as a 'down-graded' [Pollard, 137] place that she is thankful that she does not have to set eyes on again. She is of the opinion that her relatives are living in misery and is grateful that her daughter will 'escape the Kingston slums.' [Pollard, 137] Ironically, the appreciation that should be accorded for her place of birth is reserved for the place that she chooses to live, the United States. Aunt Letecia's excitement over becoming an American citizen is almost tangible, and is clearly seen in her praise of central heating, snow and Coney island.
Love of self:
June's short natural hair is a testament to her confidence and love of self. She is not daunted by her Aunt Letecia's dismissal of this look. Aunt Letecia, on the other hand, hides her hair under a wig. June comments that her sister had warned her that 'in America the wig is the black woman's good-morning-white-America-how-are-you before coffee, before prayers if any, before good morning to your black mother who sleeps in the bed next to you.' [Pollard, 139]. This implies that the black woman cannot function until she hides her natural qualities. This sentiment of dismissal regarding one's birthright is accepted by Aunt Letecia, and, in turn, passed on to Georgia, who is also seen wearing a long straight wig.
Contributor: L. Samuels-Thomas
Pollard, V. 'Georgia and Them There United States' in A World of Prose, edited by David Williams and Hazel Simmons-McDonald. (Harlow, Essex) Pearson Education, 2005.
