Me: Have you ever read Beloved?
Mama: "Yes, I had first read it on my senior year of high school in 1997."
Me: What was the reason why your teacher made your class read the book?
Mama: "The main concept she had wanted us to gain from Beloved was how deep Sethe's love ran for her kids, and that all the decisions she made in life were only based off a mother's protection."
Me: What did you take from the book?
Mama: "Well, to me the book had most definitely represented an expression of a mother's love given to a child because you know I was pregnant with you on my senior year -so I felt like I could relate more to Sethe as a mother because I know what it is like to only want the best of the best for your child, even if it involves killing that child just to protect them from a world that you know will cause harm and long-time suffering..."
Me: So, you would KILL me mama, or any of your other kids, if you knew we was going to face a hard time???
Mama: "(Laughs) Heck no crazy! I am not saying I would kill any of my kids silly, I am just saying that as a mother, I understand the logic that Sethe was thinking when she tried to murder all of her children. There are many mothers out here in this world that believe the only way to protect their loved ones is to kill them out of the act of love, hoping that they'll be safe by "going up to the heavenly gates."
Me: (Laughs) I knew you was joking the whole time... but what was your favorite part in the book?
Mama: "Hmmm, I would have to say my favorite part of the book was when Beloved had first arrived in life form back to Sethe. It was very spooky, but mysterious and exciting at the same time!"
Me: That is exactly how I felt about that part too! But anyway, do you think it is right or wrong for Beloved becoming banned or challenged in many schools?
Mama: "It is most definitely not right or even fair to have such an amazingly written book taken out of a school's curriculum. I feel that banning books are taken away from a child's reading freedom because they don't get a say so of what they want or don't want to read, instead their parents do which is not right at all; that is like complete control of your child."
Me: I also agree, but I have one more question for you mama. The most important question of them all!
Mama: (Smiles) "Oh really? What might that question be Ms. Daisha."
Me: Now I know you said that you would never kill any of your kids, BUT, if you were back in the slavery times and was in Sethe's exact position -would you have done what she did?
Mama: (Starts rubbing her chin) "Hmmmmmmmmmm, you know Daisha -that is actually a hard question to answer. Because to me there is both a bad and good side to that whole situation. The bad side to that is of course brutally slicing your baby's neck is down-right wrong! And painful to even sit and watch as your baby endure such pain! But the good side to it is that your child would not have to suffer in a horrific lifestyle that you know all too well, and the child would be laid to rest instead of suffering as a slave. So to answer your question Ms. Daisha, I would NOT have killed my kids even if I was in her position. My reasoning behind that is because I would want my children to grow up in strength, not only physically, but mentally as well. Although slavery years were brutal, I would still want my children to try and get a good education so they could fight for becoming something bigger and better in life. I am a firm believer of the old quote, "Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." Then they could also take care of their old mama once I become wrinkled up and gray!" (Laughs)
Me: (Smiles) Well mama it looks like that will be all the questions I have for you today, so on that note -it is a wrap!
Mama: "Yes, I had first read it on my senior year of high school in 1997."
Me: What was the reason why your teacher made your class read the book?
Mama: "The main concept she had wanted us to gain from Beloved was how deep Sethe's love ran for her kids, and that all the decisions she made in life were only based off a mother's protection."
Me: What did you take from the book?
Mama: "Well, to me the book had most definitely represented an expression of a mother's love given to a child because you know I was pregnant with you on my senior year -so I felt like I could relate more to Sethe as a mother because I know what it is like to only want the best of the best for your child, even if it involves killing that child just to protect them from a world that you know will cause harm and long-time suffering..."
Me: So, you would KILL me mama, or any of your other kids, if you knew we was going to face a hard time???
Mama: "(Laughs) Heck no crazy! I am not saying I would kill any of my kids silly, I am just saying that as a mother, I understand the logic that Sethe was thinking when she tried to murder all of her children. There are many mothers out here in this world that believe the only way to protect their loved ones is to kill them out of the act of love, hoping that they'll be safe by "going up to the heavenly gates."
Me: (Laughs) I knew you was joking the whole time... but what was your favorite part in the book?
Mama: "Hmmm, I would have to say my favorite part of the book was when Beloved had first arrived in life form back to Sethe. It was very spooky, but mysterious and exciting at the same time!"
Me: That is exactly how I felt about that part too! But anyway, do you think it is right or wrong for Beloved becoming banned or challenged in many schools?
Mama: "It is most definitely not right or even fair to have such an amazingly written book taken out of a school's curriculum. I feel that banning books are taken away from a child's reading freedom because they don't get a say so of what they want or don't want to read, instead their parents do which is not right at all; that is like complete control of your child."
Me: I also agree, but I have one more question for you mama. The most important question of them all!
Mama: (Smiles) "Oh really? What might that question be Ms. Daisha."
Me: Now I know you said that you would never kill any of your kids, BUT, if you were back in the slavery times and was in Sethe's exact position -would you have done what she did?
Mama: (Starts rubbing her chin) "Hmmmmmmmmmm, you know Daisha -that is actually a hard question to answer. Because to me there is both a bad and good side to that whole situation. The bad side to that is of course brutally slicing your baby's neck is down-right wrong! And painful to even sit and watch as your baby endure such pain! But the good side to it is that your child would not have to suffer in a horrific lifestyle that you know all too well, and the child would be laid to rest instead of suffering as a slave. So to answer your question Ms. Daisha, I would NOT have killed my kids even if I was in her position. My reasoning behind that is because I would want my children to grow up in strength, not only physically, but mentally as well. Although slavery years were brutal, I would still want my children to try and get a good education so they could fight for becoming something bigger and better in life. I am a firm believer of the old quote, "Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." Then they could also take care of their old mama once I become wrinkled up and gray!" (Laughs)
Me: (Smiles) Well mama it looks like that will be all the questions I have for you today, so on that note -it is a wrap!