Intergenerational trauma from slavery and racism in Sing, Unburied, Sing
Intergenerational trauma is the notion that large traumatic events in one generation of a family can be passed down to the children, grandchildren, etc. of the people who experienced the event. Throughout Sing, Unburied, Sing, the lasting effects of slavery and brutality against African Americans is shown in many different ways.
The blatant racism in this family's community is prevalent throughout every aspect of their lives. They face discrimination and racial profiling by police officers, longer, more brutal, and often wrongful incarcerations, and verbal/physical assault merely because they are black. Although racism is still ever present today, we can also see the impacts that past acts of racism has on the family, too. For instance, Leonie's brother, Given, was shot and killed by a white man intentionally, which was covered up as a "hunting accident." This racially motivated crime devastated Given's parents, who then turned a blind eye to their other child, Leonie. Leonie felt unseen by her parents and was also in the midst of grieving her brother's passing. This led her to seek comfort and love through other outlets, such as drugs, and people, like her boyfriend Michael. The drug usage caused Leonie to neglect and be emotionally unavailable to her children, and her infatuation with Michael led her to write her children out of her life and future in many ways. Through this, it is evident how one horrific event in this family had a negative impact on children who weren't even alive yet to know Given or experience his death.
The ghosts/spirits also represent the lingering effects of slavery in the family. According to Mam in the novel, "...when someone dies in a bad way, sometimes it's so awful even God can't bear to watch, and then half your spirit stays behind and wanders, wanting pace the way a thirsty man seeks water"(Ward 236). Throughout the novel, there are many ghosts of the restless souls who were unsatisfied with their death or life, looking for answers. We see this mainly through Richie, a young boy forced into incarceration at Parchman for petty theft. Although Parchman is technically a prison and the people in it are inmates, the conditions back in Richie's lifetime were so horrific that one could consider Richie as enslaved there with the traumatic events he experienced. He ended up dying after running away from Parchman, and his ghost roamed the earth searching for his cause of death and his home (he viewed Pop as "home" because he was the only father figure in Richie's life who showed him love and protection). In the end of the novel, Richie dwells in a tree where many other restless spirits live, yearning to move to the great beyond. Jojo comes across this tree filled with ghosts and hears, "He raped me and suffocated me until I died...he shot me eight times...she locked me in the shed and starved me to death...they hung me..."(Ward 283). These were the ghosts of oppressed and enslaved African Americans before Jojo's time. Although Jojo doesn't quite know how to help these lost souls, he can hear the pain of what they have gone through. These ghosts give us a visual representation of the intergenerational trauma from slavery that hovers around African American families even today.
References:
Ward, Jesmyn. Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel. Scribner, 2017.
Lee, et al. “Addressing Intergenerational Trauma in Black Families ...” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 22 Jan. 2024, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jmft.12632.
This is a great blog post! Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward does a phenomenal job discussing intergenerational trauma within African American families and communities. The novel emphasizes that it is important to understand how horrific historical events, such as slavery and the Jim Crow era, can persist through generations, shaping both immediate relationships and future generations. The connection you drew between Given’s tragic death and Leonie’s emotional withdrawal is a great example of intergenerational trauma. Leonie’s search for emotional relief in drugs and unhealthy relationships demonstrate how the cycle of trauma and neglect often persists within families that are unable to heal.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I find the imagery of ghosts as manifestations of unresolved pain and trauma particularly interesting. Richie’s and Given’s hauntings demonstrate how the traumas of the past continue to affect those who are alive today. This creates a burden that is often invisible but deeply felt by many African Americans, Leonie’s family alike. The idea that these spirits seek peace is powerful, as it suggests that acknowledgment and understanding of past injustices are critical steps toward healing.
The effects of historical trauma can be seen in modern experiences, and it emphasizes the need for open discussions about race, loss, and healing. I think it is very important to discuss these issues, as it allows for us to move forward as a society. Thank you for shedding light on this topic!