Brown Girl, Brownstones, and the Star Side of Bird Hill, Dionne and Phaedra (Essay Sample)

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Brown Girl, Brownstones, and the Star Side of Bird Hill, Dionne and Phaedra
Thousands of Barbadians, from 1900 to 1940 went to America to escape poverty and lack of opportunity in that British colony (Marshall 7). They worked incessantly to become a part the American dream to ‘buy house’ buying house in other terms will also mean getting a better life, becoming part of the important or accepted people in the society. Barbadians are people who come from Barbados is a lovely, sunny island, but many people there are very poor, have to work very hard, and can never get ahead. In the book, Brown GirlBrownston, the other provides some instances into some of the challenges an immigrant family in the U.S faced
RACISM
One of the major cultural differences that Selina experienced after moving from her home country to America is racism. In her home town of Barbados Selina was not exposed to the practice of racism (Marshall 31). This is largely due to the fact that a significant percentage of the population in Barbados is black. People were not categorized or judged according to the color of their skin. Jobs were not given jobs or opportunities according to the color of their skin because most were blacks.
On the other hand, in the U.S there are cases of racial discrimination. This was seen in the fact that Selina’s father was unable to get a meaningful job while he was in the U.S. Selina also got exposed to how blacks in the country were being treated differently from members of the white community with regards to social programs. Based on this it is logical to conclude that racism is a significant cultural difference between the U.S and Barbados.
Gender Discrimination
Another major cultural difference between the U.S and Barbados that is highlighted in the book is gender discrimination. The level of gender discrimination in the U.S is quite different from the level of gender discrimination in Barbados. This is largely evident when Selina’s mother refuses to go back to Barbados with her husband due to the fact that while she was in Barbados she was unable to obtain gainful employment and as a result end up engaging in house work which Selian’s mother found to be exhausting (Marshall 47). On the other hand, in the U.S, Selina’s mother had the opportunity to engage in gainful employment and pursue her dreams.
Religion
Brooklyn is considered to be more of a Christian community as noted in the novel. Though not strictly to one religion buts its dominant while, Barbados there is an i...