Woman Series: The Color Purple

Copyright 2008-All Rights Reserved

When I identify as a Lesbian, the first thing that people usually want to know is what does your family think? The family. Or your friends. Or some aspect of my community.

These questions come up because people are aware of the social stigma associated with same sex attraction, with love between two people of the same gender. It's a stigma that grows out of socialization that that has trained us to take the attitude that only heterosexism, love between people of the opposite sex, is “right” and valued as good. The questions come up because of "learned" homophobia, the fear of and condemnation of same sex attracted people, both externalized and internalized. Homophobia is an ugly and toxic force to be reckoned with. One that is as destructive as racism, as sexism, as classism. Like the others, it thrives on ignorance and shame, on hatefulness and misinformation.

This past fall 2008 semester I taught an English Literature class. With this course, the instructor gets to choose the material and focus of the class. I decided to do a course I called “Out of the Closet: Literature by Black Lesbian, Bisexual, and Gay Authors.” This wasn’t the first time I’ve taught it. It’s always interesting. The students learn about writers and their characters—about people who have, more often than not, been “disappeared” out of literary courses and academic study. They learn, through the work of talented and distinguished authors, about what life is like, really, when you are bisexual or transgendered or lesbian or homosexual. They learn and I learn—as an author, teacher, and human being.

The first novel we discussed was The Color Purple.

One of the major themes that Alice Walker’s novel explores is love. Love across the spectrum or continuum of what humans know as love. Love between family members, between women as members of a sisterhood, love between men and women, and love between two women. Intimate love. What society would call Lesbianism.

It’s obvious that there is a deep relationship going on between Shug and Celie; they openly sleep in the same bedroom, the same bed with each other. To complicate matters even more, Shug would be labeled Bisexual because she sleeps with men…with Albert, Celie’s husband, and has children by him, as well as with Grady, for another. Another major theme, then, is sexuality…Bisexual and Lesbian sexuality.

And just what is the community’s, the family’s reaction to this relationship between Shug and Celie? In the novel, you might expect to find some family or community reaction, or homophobia, to Lesbianism, but the author does not explore the community’s reaction. Religious, community and family censure in the form of social stigma and homophobia does not come into play in this novel which is set in the early 1920’s in rural Georgia. The author does not explore it directly. What about internalized homophobia? That is self-hate, self-loathing because you are same sex attracted, because you are a same gender loving person. Well. The two Lesbian lovers don’t suffer from it. Shug certainly does not, nor does Celie.

I believe the author’s depiction of these two women argues against social stigma, homophobia, and internalized homophobia. Celie and Shug’s behavior, their attitudes about themselves and their love affair, their personal values and view of God and the world defy the negative… the internalized homophobia, the stigma, the ugly light that some would cast on a same gender loving relationship.

What’s valuable to me about this novel, about teaching it, about reflecting on its themes of love and of sexuality is this: I see Walker’s characters as open doors that invite us to walk out of one place and into another where we examine old ideas and redefine others.

The novel invites us to question: What are our philosophies, ideas, beliefs about what we call God? What is love? What do we value about love? Is it possible that God is love only when it comes to heterosexual love?

The novel invites us to rethink and reshape ideas that some believe are engraved in stone. Celie and Shug ask us, as readers, dare us to redefine our whole notion about love—what it looks like, behaves like, what we think about it, and our attitude toward it.

Love, Walker suggests, is the most precious thing. No matter what package it comes in. I agree.

Storyteller II: The Journey, A Story of Humankind

Copyright 2008- All Rights Reserved

Most stories we love are essentially those that tell us about someone else’s journey. Human beings love stories that tell about struggles, challenges, dangers on the road of life. We love to go on the adventure to witness the battles, the hardships, the ordeals that somebody fights through to get that prize (an object, a fortune, a person, freedom, knowledge, maturity, love etc.), the“treasure” at the end that’s worth all the hell endured. We love these stories because we want to know what the story’s main character did to make it through. We’re curious about how somebody climbed over the hurdles, vanquished the monsters, and outsmarted the villains--how that somebody ended up with the “treasure” sought after and hard won. It’s an age-old story line. There are many, many variations on this theme.

When I teach this age-old, universal theme in a literature class, I tell my college students that it shows itself in cultures worldwide. They may not be interested, but I find it to be fascinating that we, no matter who we are, tell this story again and again to ourselves, and that we’ve told it for ages. In literature, we call this theme The Quest or The Journey. Journey stories portray, in a straightforward or symbolic way, the very basic human experiences that give us the following message over and over again: Life is a journey of various stages, each having its own problems to be overcome, but each with its own potential rewards.

The Quest is a story… about adventure, about self-discovery, about possibilities and transformation. It’s a story that tells us to have faith and hold on… that tells us it really is possible to triumph over the things inside us that would cripple or restrict us…that it really is possible to triumph over forces outside of ourselves that would stop us cold. Just have faith and hold on. Because it’s not the treasure at the end, it’s the treasure you get for going. It’s the treasure you get from facing what happens along the way: when you struggle, wrestle with the problem that seems so big and bad that you think it’s gonna eat your ass up; it’s the treasure you get when the questions in your head make you unsure of yourself and the choices you’re making. Do I really want to do this? You say to yourself when things get hairy. Isn’t there an easier, softer way? You start to wonder when those ordeals show up to kick your ass. The thing is: It’s not the destination but the journey that matters. And it will change you. Because The Journey tests you. Transforms you. Defines who you are because of the choices you make as you travel your road. The Journey, then, becomes the real treasure. It’s the means by which you’ve been changed. And, to me, that’s what counts: change, growth, taking your life up to another, a new level.

One of my favorite stories about The Journey is a movie trilogy, Lord of the Rings. In the first installment, The Fellowship of the Ring, the main character, Frodo undertakes a journey to return the evil ring of power to the place of its origin in order to destroy it. Frodo volunteers to go. He has an inkling that The Journey will be hard, but I don’t think he realizes, from the outset, how difficult—how frightening and full of challenges it will turn out to be. In legend and in real life, Journeys always are, but that’s the point of The Journey--to go through it and learn from it, to be transformed by it, and to bring back “the treasure” which will benefit others in some way. Traditionally, in The Quest, the Journeyer needs these three qualities above all because The Journey takes you on a treacherous, long, and really hard road of trials: persistence, courage, and insight. And I can see that you would need these things, yet there’s another thing I think you need. The Journeyer has to be willing to go. Sometimes willingness, I think, is even more essential than courage on life’s Journey. If you aren’t willing, you won’t answer when life calls you to put your foot on the road. Willingness is the better part of persistence, pushing you forward so you’ll follow through, instead of giving up when those hurdles, those obstacles, tests, and ordeals show up. Don’t get me wrong. The Journey does require courage. (Courage, not just bravery; being brave isn’t quite enough. It’s courage that sends you into the lion’s den when you’re scared to death.) And you need insight, as well, to figure out things and people that you come across along the way.

Frodo is willing and does answer the call. Then, as things get really hard, because The Journey is always a hard thing to do, Frodo doesn’t want to keep going after he loses Gandoff, his mentor and guide. At that point, the Elf queen tells Frodo—who is now questioning his purpose, confused about whether to continue, and grieving the loss of Gandoff—that because the world depends on him to do this task, which is his and his alone, it won’t get done if he doesn’t complete it. That he is the Ring Bearer, but he must be willing to go. To do it. No one else can.

Now, that’s a scary thing to tell somebody…that the world is depending on you to do something that nobody else in the world can do because this task is yours alone. Wow. You better find some willingness, some courage, some persistence behind that heavy message. And you better find it fast. That is, if you’re going. Somehow though, most of us human beings look inside and find the qualities we need to take our journey. That’s a good thing because nobody else can be us, can travel our road, can complete our individual tasks. The story of The Journey encourages us to go ahead, to have faith that we can do it—whatever it is. To hang in there and do whatever it is we’re supposed to do. Because nobody else can.

I am always inspired by this universal theme called The Journey. It was Joseph Campbell, the scholar, who, some years ago, originally discovered the worldwide presence of this thematic motif in his studies of cultural myths; Campbell defined The Journey’s purpose in human society, breaking it down into stages with identifiable characters who play essential roles. I never tire of rediscovering the power of this story and I never tire of sharing my understanding of it. I invite you to look at the story of humankind through a universal lens called The Journey. It is outlined for you below.

The Journey (The Quest)
Purpose:
To answer the challenge, complete The Quest, to restore the ordinary world’s balance.
To meet difficult tests, ordeals which are part of life; to learn, to grow from them, and, ultimately, change because of these experiences, then bring back the gift or “treasure” earned and share the “treasure” with others.
A story of a heroine/hero who must separate from the ordinary, familiar world to travel on a difficult journey that promises to transform her/his life.

People on The Journey:

The Journeyer (heroine/hero) – person who needs to learn something and who will undertake hardships and sacrifice to answer the challenge of The Journey and complete it.

The Herald – something or someone appears announcing/implying the coming of significant change and issuing a challenge, problem, quest, or adventure.

Mentor/ Guide - Mentor is a wise person (or animal in fables) who provides guidance and knowledge to the Journeyer, usually gives “magical” or special gifts or advice for The Journey ahead.

Helpers, Allies – Help the Journeyer learn the rules of this “new” world.

The Other/Alter Ego – Mirrors the Journeyer in some way by representing/symbolizing our darkest desires or rejected qualities about self, or our untapped resources/abilities, or the “best” in self. This Other can be “good” or “bad.” The Other mirrors the Journeyer and meeting this person is crucial to the Journeyer who must decide to either recognize and acknowledge, to claim or not claim this part of self. If the Journeyer does not claim it, his/her growth, change/transformation cannot take place. And the quest fails.

Stages of The Journey:

Home- the known, familiar, safe haven of the everyday world of the Journeyer before the “story” begins.

The Call – A herald presents the Journeyer is presented with problem, challenge, quest, adventure to undertake to earn a reward/ “treasure.” (Journeyer may not know what the “treasure” is or that a “treasure” can be gotten.) The call can be accepted or refused. (Refusal of The Call - If Journeyer refuses call, the reason is usually fear. The call then comes again later.)

Meeting the Mentor –Journeyer meets a mentor/teacher/guide to get training & advice, to learn new skills for The Journey, to gain confidence in abilities to undertake The Journey.

The Threshold (Crossing) – The Journeyer crosses the gateway that separates the ordinary world from the special, “different” and, “new” world. This crossing tests & questions the Journeyer’s commitment The Journey and whether she/he can succeed.

Tests/Road of Trials – This stage challenges the skills, powers, abilities of the Journeyer who must undergo a series of tests. These serve as preparation for the greater ordeal yet to come. Stakes are heightened by the Journeyer confronting challenges, tests and enemies, by setbacks, hardships endured and dangers encountered by these tests. Because of setbacks, Journeyer may need to reorganize strategy or rekindle morale with help of allies and helpers.

Final Ordeal – Central trial/ life/death crisis; The Journey teeters on the brink of failure. The Journeyer faces her/his biggest fear, confronts the most difficult challenge and experiences symbolic “death.” Only through the "dying" of her/his old self can the Journeyer be reborn. “Rebirth” or change/transformation grants The Journeyer greater insight, wisdom, “power” to see the Journey to the end.

Reward/Treasure -The Journeyer has overcome her/his biggest fear, confronted the most difficult challenge, survived death, now earns reward. Reward is the “treasure” earned/sought. Could be an object, or knowledge, “gift,” a blessing, or love that will now be put to use in the everyday world the Journeyer will return to. Often it will have a restorative or healing function but it also serves to define the hero’s role in her/his society.

Transformation- Journeyer is changed by experiences of The Journey and returns to ordinary world with the “power” (knowledge, gift, wisdom, skills, etc.) to be a boon to others.

Adventures of a Maverick Author 2: The Plot Thickens

Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved

The other day, I read a story excerpt from “Woman Dreams: Going Against the Grain” which appears in Part I of “The Mee Street Chronicles.” I’ve gotten so I read that story first off because people always ask me THE QUESTION—When did you know you were a Lesbian? “Woman Dreams” answers that question though I find that some still feel the need to ask even after I’ve read it. Maybe they just don’t believe what they hear.

Questions and Answers is my favorite part now. Because I never know what people will ask me. That keeps me on my toes. I watch myself bobbing and weaving like Muhammed Ali did in the ring to keep from getting pounded by the punches thrown by Joe Frazier.

My audience is part of a college where the student body pulls no punches. These folk are street savvy challengers. Typically, after they’ve heard my story excerpt, they’re amazed at my shameLESS, straightforward audacity in stepping out of the closet and into the light. Typically, they’re chafing at the bit to expose me with their questions. As a phony? A wimp? A repentant sinner looking for redemption at their hands? Who knows? What I do know is that these college students are definitely a Joe Frazier audience—big fisted and willing to knock you silly if you’re not ready for the punches they throw.

This time as I finish, close my book, and step away from the podium signaling that I don’t use it as a shield between me and my audience, I point to the first person I see with a raised hand.

“Who would you say is responsible for your being …uh…same sex attracted, as you call it?” The question was from a woman of color.

“God,” I said without pause. I was stone serious and I wanted them to know it. Stone serious, but not hostile. “God made me. God is responsible. I was born this way.”

She nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

We were off and running. I figured they’d be going in the same direction as the last class of students I’d presented for a couple of weeks ago. There’d been some sharks in that class. And they’d been hungry. But they didn’t get a bite of me because my answers wouldn’t allow them to get their teeth into my behind.

More hands shot up. I nodded at a young man, Black, sitting near the front. He said, “We can assume that God considers you an abomination, right? So….”

I cut him off at the pass. “No,” I said, looking him dead in the eye. “I don’t know assume that God considers me that.” I moved closer to where he was sitting. “If I were an abomination I don’t think I’d be standing here. Why would God create an abomination and let it walk around? If I’m an abomination, I’d be dead. Don’t you think?”

He simply looked at me, confounded.

I glanced again at the forest of hands lifted. I pointed to another woman. “Was it hard coming out back then? I mean, as opposed to right now.”

“Well, I didn’t come out back when I was a kid. As for now, you need to know it’s always hard to come out,” I said. “Always. You don’t know what might happen because homophobia and heterosexism is everywhere. It ain’t gone by a long shot. We’re killing our world with hate and bigotry. That can change if we talk to each other. Like now.”

The woman gave me a tentative smile. Some other heads in the room were nodding at what I’d said.

The confounded guy raised his hand again for another go. “After you die and when you stand before God, what’re you going to say about the choice you made to be a Lesbian?”

Several students turned around to glare at him. I noted their reaction. That was something new and interesting.

“First of all,” I began, “it’s not a choice. Why would anybody choose to be stigmatized and hated? Read “Predators” in Part Two of my book for more on that. And as for the afterlife issue, I won’t get drawn into a discussion about religious beliefs because that’s not what my book is about. Suffice to say, my beliefs are not yours.” I paused to see if he was getting it before I went on. “Besides, I’m not here to persuade you about anything; I’m here to share my life experiences with you.”

He was a dog with a bone. And he didn’t know how to let go. “But the Christian Bible says you’re wrong—”

A Black woman sitting in front of him cut him off and barked: “You can’t push your beliefs off on somebody else!”

From the back of the room, another Black woman hollered: “You can’t judge her! Don’t judge her!”

That surprised me. Before I could respond, the professor intervened. He reminded his class that college is about learning new things and expanding your base of knowledge. That open-mindedness is the hallmark of an educated person. That it’s part of a college’s mission to show people that broad diversity exists in the universe regardless of whether we fear it or disapprove. And he reminded the Black students that none of us would be in a classroom three hundred years ago because teaching slaves and free Blacks was generally outlawed and disapproved of.

I listened, surprised at what had happened: That the students had jumped in to defend me although it was clear that I could take care of myself, and that the professor had stepped in. He never had before. But I think he was a bit put-off by the narrow-minded reactions that he’d heard in the past several days from some faculty and students about my open, guilt-free sexual identity—a journey narrated in the stories of my book.

Just when you think that homophobia and heterosexism is taking over every heart and mind, blitzing through the land at terrifying speed like Hitler’s Lightening War, blasting away all hope for respect and good will among all people—just when you give up on that, something appears on the horizon that rescues hope and gives water to its roots: Unforeseeable, unpredictable incidents.

Those are the kinds of things I love in a story. Yeah, it’s the end of Act Two and the beginning of Act Three; everything looks grimmer than grim because the Evil Empire is winning. And that’s when the unforeseeable happens, bringing you a ray of hope, all warm and shiny, enough so you can smear it all over your face. Enough to catch a whiff as it rides in clean and fresh like an ocean breeze. Enough so you can just see its head peeking out, like pink calla lilies rising up, in spring, out of winter’s melting snow.

And I am reminded that the plot always thickens with unexpected twists and turns.

The Mee Street Chronicles will tell you more about me and my maverick ways. Buy it online at www.amazon.com and read the stories for yourself. If your church, organization, book club, or class would like to engage me to do a Book Read, contact me at either flennon@ peoplepc.com or frankie.lennon@gmail.com