Brown Girl Dreaming

1. Born into a Nation Divided: A Brown Girl's Beginning

I am born in Ohio but the stories of South Carolina already run like rivers through my veins.

A nation in flux. Jacqueline Woodson was born in Columbus, Ohio, on February 12, 1963, into a country deeply divided by race. Her birth coincided with significant moments in the Civil Rights Movement, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s plans for the March on Washington and Malcolm X speaking of revolution. This historical context immediately frames her life within the ongoing struggle for equality.

Ancestral connections. Her family history is tied to both the North and the South, with her father's Woodson lineage potentially tracing back to Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings in Ohio, and her mother's Irby family rooted in South Carolina. This dual heritage means the history of slavery and the fight for freedom are woven into her very being from birth. She is born into a legacy of both struggle and resilience.

Early identity. Even as an infant, her identity is marked by race ("Negro Female" on her birth certificate) and place (named Jacqueline, a compromise from her father's desire to name her Jack, signifying strength). Her hands, she wonders, might one day be raised in protest like Malcolm's, open in asking like Martin's, or curled around a pen like James Baldwin's, ready to change the world.

2. Southern Roots and Family Anchors: Life in Greenville

Here, you can’t look right or left or up or down without seeing brown people.

A sense of belonging. After her parents separate, Jacqueline and her siblings move with their mother to Greenville, South Carolina, to live with their maternal grandparents, Georgiana and Gunnar Irby. This is Nicholtown, a predominantly Black neighborhood, offering a stark contrast to the North and a strong sense of community and belonging. Here, they are "Gunnar's grands" and "Sister Irby's grands."

Grandparents' influence. Her grandparents become central figures in her life. Gunnar, a foreman at a printing press, teaches them about the land through his garden and about the ongoing fight for civil rights, emphasizing non-violence but readiness to die for what is right. Georgiana, a teacher and domestic worker, instills faith, teaches them proper speech, and shares Bible stories, while also protecting them from the harsh realities of segregation.

Life under segregation. Despite the strong community, the realities of the segregated South are ever-present. They sit in the back of the bus, are followed in stores, and witness sit-ins and protests. Her grandmother warns them about the dangers but also teaches them resilience and pride in who they are, reminding them they are "as good and bright and beautiful and free as anybody."

3. Navigating Two Worlds: The Contrast of North and South

Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle of everything I’ve been told and memory.

Two distinct homes. Jacqueline's childhood is marked by movement between the North (Ohio, then New York City) and the South (Greenville, SC). These places represent two different worlds with distinct smells, sounds, ways of speaking, and social rules. The North is fast-paced, urban, and offers different opportunities, while the South is slower, rooted in land and community, but burdened by overt segregation.

Language and identity. The way people speak highlights this divide. In the South, there's a slower cadence and specific phrases, while in the North, speech is faster. Her mother tries to teach them the "right way to talk," a Northern way, to distinguish them and protect them from the subservient language of the South. This creates an internal conflict about where they truly belong and how they should sound.

A constant pull. The family is constantly pulled between these two homes. Her mother misses the South but seeks opportunity and freedom in the North. Her father remains in Ohio. The children feel the tension, wondering if they will always have to choose between "home and home," carrying pieces of each place within them.

4. The Power of Words: Finding Voice Through Reading and Writing

What a miracle these words that slowly come to me.

Sister's inspiration. Jacqueline struggles with reading initially, finding words on the page difficult to grasp. Her older sister, Dell, is a gifted reader, devouring books and easily understanding complex stories. Dell's love for reading and her patience in teaching Jacqueline the alphabet and simple words provide a crucial foundation for Jacqueline's own literacy journey.

Words as escape and world-building. Despite her early difficulties, Jacqueline is captivated by stories and the potential of words. She loves the feel and smell of her composition notebook and the shape of letters. Stories become a way for her to escape the present, imagine other worlds (like those in Dell's books), and make sense of her experiences. She internalizes stories, remembering them long after they are read.

The beginning of a writer. Her first attempts at writing, starting with her name, reveal a burgeoning passion. She sees the power in putting words on paper, knowing that if she can write her name, she can write anything. Though others initially see her storytelling as just "making things up," she recognizes the potential for words to create, capture, and hold onto moments and memories forever.

5. Faith and Belonging: Jehovah's Witnesses and Family Bonds

In my house, my grandmother says you will do as I do.

Grandmother's faith. After her mother moves North, Jacqueline and her siblings are raised by their grandmother, Georgiana, who is a devout Jehovah's Witness. This faith becomes a central part of their lives, dictating their routines, beliefs, and interactions with the outside world. They attend meetings, go door-to-door preaching, and adhere to strict rules, like not celebrating holidays or birthdays.

Navigating religious identity. Being Jehovah's Witnesses sets them apart from their peers. They cannot pledge allegiance to the flag or participate in classroom birthday celebrations. This creates a sense of being "in the world but not of the world." While her grandmother sees this as being "chosen" and "different," Jacqueline and her siblings sometimes long to be like other children.

Different beliefs within family. The faith also highlights differences within their own family. Her grandfather Gunnar does not share her grandmother's strict beliefs, believing that hard work and treating people well are enough for God to see his goodness. Her mother, though she ensures the children follow the rules for her mother's sake, is not a Witness herself. Jacqueline grapples with these differing views and the idea of a God who might exclude her beloved grandfather.

6. Loss and Change: The Impact of Death and Moving

Too fast the summer leaves us, we kiss our grandparents goodbye and my uncle Robert is there waiting to take us home.

A series of losses. Jacqueline's childhood is marked by significant losses and constant change. The separation of her parents is an early loss. The death of her uncle Odell deeply impacts her mother and grandmother. The death of her aunt Kay, her mother's closest sister, is a profound blow, leading to another move for the family.

Grief and memory. The death of her grandfather Gunnar is particularly impactful. She spends time caring for him in his final days, experiencing the quiet sadness of his passing. His death signifies the end of an era in Greenville and leads to her grandmother selling the Hall Street house, further disrupting their sense of a stable home base.

Adapting to change. Each move and each death requires the family to adapt. They leave behind friends, familiar places, and routines. These experiences teach Jacqueline about the impermanence of life and place, but also about the enduring power of memory and the strength of family bonds that persist despite physical distance and loss.

7. Brooklyn Life: New Friends, New Challenges, New Stories

This place is loud and strange and nowhere I will ever call home.

Adjusting to the city. Moving to New York City, specifically Brooklyn, presents a new set of challenges. The urban environment is a stark contrast to the rural South – gray, treeless, noisy, and fast-paced. Their initial living situations are unstable, requiring multiple moves. Jacqueline initially finds it difficult to see this place as home.

New friendships and community. Despite the challenges, they find community. Their aunt Kay and other people from Greenville live nearby, creating pockets of familiarity. Jacqueline forms a close friendship with Maria, her Puerto Rican neighbor, learning Spanish and sharing cultural experiences like food and games. This friendship expands her world and understanding of different backgrounds.

Family struggles in the city. Life in Brooklyn also brings new struggles for her family. Her younger brother, Roman, suffers from lead poisoning from eating paint chips in their apartment walls, requiring hospital stays. Her uncle Robert, who initially brings joy and gifts, ends up in prison on Rikers Island, adding another layer of sadness and absence to their lives.

8. Becoming a Writer: Capturing the World in Words

And I know now the words are my Tingalayo. The words are my brilliance.

Finding her voice. Despite her early struggles with reading, Jacqueline discovers her talent and passion for writing. She is a natural storyteller, inventing tales that flow easily when she speaks. Putting them on paper is harder, but she is determined. Her composition notebook becomes a sacred space for her words.

Words as brilliance. While her sister Dell is recognized for her academic brilliance, Jacqueline finds her own form of brilliance in words. She memorizes stories and poems, internalizing them until they become a part of her. When she recites "The Selfish Giant" or sings her own "mountain song," she realizes the power and beauty she can create with language.

Writing her reality. Writing becomes her way of processing the world, both the reality she lives and the stories she imagines. She writes about her experiences, her family, her feelings, and the places she's lived. Even when told not to write about her family or to stick to certain topics, she finds ways to weave her truth and imagination together, claiming her identity as a writer.

Last updated: May 13, 2025