The novel is set in a Midwestern industrial town, Lorain, Ohio, Morrison’s own birthplace. Pauline and Cholly Breedlove are transplanted Southerners and several key scenes in the novel are set in the South. How does Morrison set up comparisons between a Northern black community and the Southern black way of life? What values do you think have been gained or lost in the migration north?
The biggest difference I see in this age is the lack of respect for elders. I don’t want to limit that to being Black. Anyone I’ve ever met from “down south” used Mam and Sir when they first moved here (Pittsburgh area).
The contrasts between the Northern and Southern Black communities are woven through the experiences of the characters, especially the Breedlove family. The Southern Black families often had closer-knit communities. There was a sense of solidarity. In contrast, the Northern had a more individualistic, fragmented way of life. Secondly, in the South, despite racial oppression, many Blacks worked in agricultural sectors with a sense of belonging to the land; but there were fewer opportunities for advancement of any kind. The North offered more economic opportunities, though not ideal. Discrimination was less overt. Thirdly, Southern Blacks had a sense of pride in their cultural heritage. In the North, Black identity was more fragmented. These changes contribute to the sense of alienation and internal conflict, particularly Pecola’s tragic struggle with identity
The characters experiences in both the North and the South still centered around poverty and racism. Moving north gave them the illusion of moving up the social ladder but the stark reality during this time period was still rooted in racism.
I am not Black so I am not qualified to discuss this question from a Black point of view. I do believe, universally, that the overall transition of America in the last one hundred years from a predominantly rural agrarian society to an urban technological society has resulted in the loss of “community” for most Americans. I am fortunate to live in a very small rural community (150 population) where we know everyone, we neighbor, help each other out, and celebrate and mourn together.