Goldie Barajas
English 1B
4/1/11
Responses to “Cooking with Aunt Ethel”
From the book The Colored Museum
By George C. Wolfe
1) Culture:
The “Blues” is a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads.
2) Symbolism and Satire:
Aunt Ethel, in the exhibit “Cooking with Aunt Ethel” from the play The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe, represents the stereotype of being an Aunt Jemima. Being an Aunt Jemima refers to a friendly black woman who is perceived as respectfully acting in, or protective of, the interests of whites. An Aunt Jemima embodied an early twentieth century woman that idealized domesticity that was inspired by old southern hospitality. As far as the “ism” Aunt Ethel symbolizes it is racism because throughout her cooking blues song she is describing the supposed “traits” African Americans have judging from their race and cultural background. I think the author is satirizing this “ism” in order make the reader realize the complexity of African American Culture and its music which does not come in one style but many and it emphasizes on social political issues.
3) Cultural Allusions:
As far as the ingredients identified in the song as being part of the African American culture there are many, but some are: the preoccupation of females in regards with their hair, the attitude African Americans have, rage, heap of survival, humility, humor, madness, salty language, and the blues. In addition, the song presented to us here is a Blues song.
4) Theme and Conflicts:
The words in stanza 7 “Discard and Disown” are referring to the action of forgetting and the disownment of the African American culture ingredients, or components. I conclude this because it seems as if all the traits of African Americans have been marked by what they have been told through white people not what African Americans really consider themselves to be. As far as the theme of African Americans finding their identities it is sounded in this song throughout the song because as we start Aunt Ethel is trying to define all the components of an African Americans or in other words what makes African Americans who they are. But as she finds herself giving us, the reader, those ingredients, I noticed, the complexity of every stanza. For example: stanza 4 talks about the fight for survival and the humility felt defended with attitude and this leading to conflict. In conclusion, in this exhibit I see the conflict of African Americans trying to find their identity which has been fragmented by the “isms” and the forms in which they have been oppressed all these years. I definitely think this theme will be presented to us throughout the play.
5) Interpretation:
I think the “you” Aunt Ethel is speaking to in the line “But don’t ask me what to do with’em not that you cot’em, cause child, that’s your problem” is to the African American women watching her supposed cooking show. The stereotype of African American women having many children and getting pregnant is what it is implied in this line.
2 comments:
This is analysis is completely wrong. This song or poem is an allegory about the black experience in America from slavery to the present day. The ingredients are all affectations of that experience. They all constitute unique responses or coping mechanisms for the cruelty and oppression faced by African Americans. Blues, Jazz, A particular style of humor and attitude , Salty Language, are examples of the elements of black culture that emerged from this crucible of pain and suffering. The cooking procedures...beat it, discard and disown, etc describe the long expanse of oppression thru Time, from the beatings and back braking work of slaves to the neglect and poverty of today’s urban poor. The cooking period is the 400 year or so years black people have been in this country. However, the most inaccurate part of this analysis is the misunderstanding of who the audience is. When Aunt Ethel says you have baked yourself a batch of Negros... she is talking to white people. In essence she is saying, you brought us here, you created the unique and complex culture we have, thru 400 years of racism and oppression...and now you must take some responsibility for the outcomes we see today.
I mostly agree. However this work also in intended to explore stereotypes, racism, etc. George C WOlfe has said he wants it to be a "celebration and a exorcism". The appropriation of a house slave that cooked and cared for children, a Mamie or Aunt Jemima, was a real position and the closest to the family on a plantation. They raised many white children etc. Should this caricature be exorcised or celebrated or both? I say both. There is so much to unpack, but we know this: not appropriate to take this vital role in the workings of a plantation and exploit it and appropriate it to sell pancakes and syrup. Like all the exhibits in TCM this stereotypical female archetype is a step removed from our reality. (it can do less harm in it's place) It is a relic exhibited in a museum because it still hold cultural worth and as a society, we can still learn from what we see in it. Should it be rejected or looked at in a negative way? By white people, yes. I think it is a shameful example of how little we valued these remarkable women. How do black people feel? Well to be kidnapped, trafficked, sold, raped, beaten, seen as property, lineage and heritage, language and religion eradicated and then be elevated and permeate not only the south but all of white culture is pretty astonishing to me. It was not what these women would have chosen to do obviously and there is so much more work to be done, but be proud of it all.
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