Look Out For: Killers of the Dream by Lillian Smith
Discussion of being raised in the South /
Southern ideology from white perspective
The term "the white South"
Southern "values" condemn Blackness and
sex
Story of Janie (adopted white-passing child
who Smith's family returns when they
discover she is Black)
Author condemns racism of the South
First person / collective first person
Themes:
Reflection on childhood and the place
where Smith grew up
Production and reproduction of ideology //
imposition of ideology on children
Contradiction between Christian principles
and principles of segregation
"It is a strange thing, this umbilical cord Killers of the Dream by Lillian Smith
uncut. In times of ease, we do not feel its
pull, but when we are threatened with -This is the first time we see the phrase "the white South"
change, suddenly it draws the whole white -This phrase labels white supremaciest ideology and those embedded in/participating
South together in a collective fear and fury in racist society
that wipe our minds clear of reason and we
are blocked from sensible contact with the
world we live in" (26).
1/13
, 8/17/24, 10:04 AM
"We who were born in the South called this Killers of the Dream by Lillian Smith
mesh of feeling and memory 'loyalty.' We
thought of it some- times as 'love.' We Explores the way that the identity of the white South is intertwined with the past,
identified with the South's trouble as if we, making the white South resistant to change/progress
individually, were responsible for all of it. We
defended the sins and the sorrows of three
hundred years as if each sin had been
committed by us alone and each sorrow had
cut across our heart. We were as hurt at
criticism of our region as if our own name
had been called aloud by the critic. We
knew guilt without understanding it, and
there is no tie that binds men closer to the
past and each other than that" (26).
"And then I found it possible to say, 'Why is Killers of the Dream by Lillian Smith
she leaving? She likes us, she hardly knows
them. She told me she had been with them -Shows how the markers used to inscribe race are arbitrary
only a month.' 'Because,' Mother said gently, -If Janie is albino, a minor genetic difference makes her white
'Janie is a little colored girl.' 'But she's white!' -Shows how racism is an unnatural imposition on children like Smith, but is impossible to
'We were mistaken. She is colored.'" (36). reverse once it becomes naturalized in people like her mother
Relevant Source: Killers of the Dream by Lillian Smith
Definition:
-The insertion of something of a different nature into something else
-Ideology surrounds you and impacts you, whether you want it to and realize it or not
Interpolation
-Whether you accept authority or not, you will respond to it (Ex: the police)
Important because:
The ideologies of white supremacy and the white South surround white Southerners,
allowing these ideologies to be reproduced and transferred across time
Who wrote "Nobody Knows My Name: A James Baldwin
Letter From the South"?
Look out for: "Nobody Knows My Name: A Letter From the South" by James Baldwin
First person
African American view of the South
Urgency of desegregation
Violence and Brown v. Board are worth it —
education is super important
Racism as emasculating
Compare African Americans who moved
North during Great Migration to immigrants
Atlanta
Discussion of old Black man
Themes:
Paternalism
Pace of desegregation
Importance of education
2/13
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Denyss. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.