For me, these last chapters represented a move forward and more hopeful outlook for the future. We see this in more student support for Charlayne and Hamp (pg. 194) as well as Charlayne's feelings of being more a part of UGA (pg. 199). But I think the larger representation of hope and moving forward is in the more self-reflective passages Charlayne provides.
I thought the idea of the greater Civil Rights movement having a sort of ripple effect on Charlayne (pg. 212) was very poignant. I think it's safe to say we have all been expected to be a representation of an entire population due to one of our forms of identity before, and nobody really appreciates that. No one wants to represent an entire people group just because they may identify with them. We all want to be representatives of ourselves; listened to for what we have to say; appreciated for what we have to offer.
Charlyane spoke of this idea several times in the last few chapters; she phrased it as not wanting to be a symbol (pg. 238). Though Charlayne's connection with the University of Georgia will forever be a symbol of desegregation at our institution, she doesn't want her self to be a symbol. She wants to be known for who she is and what she's accomplished in her personal and professional life, aside from helping to desegregate UGA. She stated, "If I were going to be known in the world, I wanted it to be through the efforts of my ability, rather than through something that but for the time and place should have been an ordinary, routine occurrence. I wanted to be famous one day, but not simply for going to college" (pg. 240). In another passage, she speaks of wanting to establish an "identity of anything other than a symbol" (Pg. 242).
I think Charlayne has a very valid desire in not wanting to be a symbol; in having the ability to become someone other that the girl-who-desegregated-UGA. For me then, the larger question is how do we celebrate someone's courage and bravery without turning them into a symbol? How can we more appropriately associate events with symbols rather than the people who lived them?
It gave me a sense of great pride to read Charlyane's commencement address at the end of the book. Did anyone else et that same feeling of look how far we've come? Her address was 25 years after her own graduation, but we are now at 48 years past her graduation. In many ways, we still have miles to go, but in others, we have come so far. What are your thoughts as you reflect on the past 25 or 48 years of race relations in the South? In what ways do you see progress and in what areas do we still need to work?
I hope you have enjoyed reading about one of UGA's own pioneers. I know this book has given me new insight into our institution's past as well as food for thought and self-reflection in what it means to find my own place. What do you take away from this book?
Please take a minute to read over the synopses for the March book choices and cast your vote for our Women's History Month read.
I thought the idea of the greater Civil Rights movement having a sort of ripple effect on Charlayne (pg. 212) was very poignant. I think it's safe to say we have all been expected to be a representation of an entire population due to one of our forms of identity before, and nobody really appreciates that. No one wants to represent an entire people group just because they may identify with them. We all want to be representatives of ourselves; listened to for what we have to say; appreciated for what we have to offer.
Charlyane spoke of this idea several times in the last few chapters; she phrased it as not wanting to be a symbol (pg. 238). Though Charlayne's connection with the University of Georgia will forever be a symbol of desegregation at our institution, she doesn't want her self to be a symbol. She wants to be known for who she is and what she's accomplished in her personal and professional life, aside from helping to desegregate UGA. She stated, "If I were going to be known in the world, I wanted it to be through the efforts of my ability, rather than through something that but for the time and place should have been an ordinary, routine occurrence. I wanted to be famous one day, but not simply for going to college" (pg. 240). In another passage, she speaks of wanting to establish an "identity of anything other than a symbol" (Pg. 242).
I think Charlayne has a very valid desire in not wanting to be a symbol; in having the ability to become someone other that the girl-who-desegregated-UGA. For me then, the larger question is how do we celebrate someone's courage and bravery without turning them into a symbol? How can we more appropriately associate events with symbols rather than the people who lived them?
It gave me a sense of great pride to read Charlyane's commencement address at the end of the book. Did anyone else et that same feeling of look how far we've come? Her address was 25 years after her own graduation, but we are now at 48 years past her graduation. In many ways, we still have miles to go, but in others, we have come so far. What are your thoughts as you reflect on the past 25 or 48 years of race relations in the South? In what ways do you see progress and in what areas do we still need to work?
I hope you have enjoyed reading about one of UGA's own pioneers. I know this book has given me new insight into our institution's past as well as food for thought and self-reflection in what it means to find my own place. What do you take away from this book?
Please take a minute to read over the synopses for the March book choices and cast your vote for our Women's History Month read.
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