The Big Mama Stories by the author Shay Youngblood:"They tell me...Now I know"

Monica Johnson

Professor Lennon

Freshman English/Introduction to Literature: African-American Storytelling

24 September 2010

The short story "They tell me...Now I know" is a narrative taken from the book The Big Mama Stories by the author Shay Youngblood.  It is a coming of age story of a young African American girl displaced by her biological mother who finds the help she needs in her journey through life. This help comes from a group of women, who are her educators, mentors and guides. They are the women who she refers to as Big Mamas. Our story is set in Princeton, Georgia, it is summer, and it is the morning that announces to our young protagonist the moment that bridges physical adolescence to young adulthood. This is the moment that brings together our bodies and minds.  The physical transition which is marked by blood representing life.  It welcomes a new sense of belonging in the form of confidence, sisterhood and womanhood. 

The main conflict of our story for the protagonist, who is our narrator, is fear. The fear which is framed with the unknown and introduces itself   in the form of questions and denial of her rite of passage  to cross over to the river, which is colloquialism for growing up.  This fear is brought on by the appearance of the antagonist, which is the blood. Which our narrator admits that she new her time would come as she states, “I new the day I became a woman would be marked by blood.” (101)  But from this day on the inner conflict begins with the questions of a child, the confusions, the restlessness that presses on her mind. The questions of when will she know the luscious secrets “the sounds from behind the late night doors” or when will she get those fascinating answers about “Love sex and money.” (101)  However, it’s the fear of change and knowledge that scare our young protagonist.  All her questions will be answered, real issues materialize and real responsibilities begin as she is no longer in the dark, asking the questions that she feels no one will answer. It’s the fears that tempt her into a state of disillusionment and hesitation. The moment where she thinks that maybe she’s not ready to cross over to the river, that her Big Mamas are welcoming her to do. 

The character of the narrator is curious as she wants to know the meaning of the answers she seeks but her curiosity still leads her into childlike, wide-eyed, fairytale. As she waits to know the secrets of womanhood, she states “I kept hoping for presents like cameras, new clothes or jewelry.” (103) She openly admits that she is afraid to go the river and that even though she wants to know the mysteries that hold her bound to adolescence she states, “Suddenly, I was scared” and asks other questions such as, “why I have to go now.”  (103) we see our protagonist’s inner child needing to be comforted and held just a little longer.

One of the main characters in the story, Big Mama, who is a kind hearted person, and has been the mentor who has opened her home to the narrator, comforts and reassures our protagonist that it is time for her crossing over as she explains “when a girlchile get her first blood her mama or one like her mama have to prepare her."Then the women in the family can take her to a secret place for the crossing over.” (102) Another character, Aunt Mae, Big Mama’s blood sister, a woman who is bluntly honest who shares her story with the narrator of her first sexual encounter as she explains “ I was weak with desire and I didn’t know exactly what it was.” (103)  

            The narrators Big Mama's all offer her lessons that will guide her in life.  There is Big Mama, Aunt Mae, Miss Mary, Miss Corrine, Miss Lamama, Aunt Vi, and Miss Tom. All the women make contributions in the area of human experience.
 The Big Mama's realizes that the narrator is filled with questions as Miss Corrine states, "Daughter been restless, asking lotta questions...its bout time she got some answers." (102) The women all teach her through stories and life lived experiences.  They talk to her about subject matters such as sexual desires, they tell her to "keep your own money-be independent, treat other folks like you wanna be treated, but let no one walk over you. Stand up for yourself” remember where you come from, pray, put faith in the Lord and in yourself and if you don't want a baby, keep your legs crossed and your dress tail down." (104)

 The character traits of the narrator include her neediness and inquisitiveness as she spends more time with her Big Mama's learning and listening to them. The narrator’s motivations are that she wants to be an adult. She wants to be involved in matters and she wants to feel a part of something. Furthermore, her behavior is persistent, obedient, and respectful. For example, she did not refuse the ritual to cross over to the river.  

In the end, our narrator is a character who is dynamic.  She has transformed from a fearful and questioning little girl to a mature young adult.  The narrator is now ready to be called to the circle of women by name.  The women introduce our narrator, Rita, in the crossing over ceremony.  They offer her gifts of wisdom and the keys to freedom from oppression (Lennon. English 1B Glossary).  The Big Mama’s have been true mentors in their teachings of life lessons.  They have taught her how to defend herself from racism and sexism. They have taught her to be independent, to pray, awareness, to challenge, to be her self and to remember who she is. The crossing over is complete, as Rita can dance through her journey of life with confidence and the belonging to a sisterhood of women.