Blog 3 - Brown Girl in the Ring Game

Brown Girl in the Ring is a children's game from the Caribbeans which consists of a group of children that stand in a circle and one person, usually a girl, stands on the inside, they tell the girl to "show me your motion", she then shows them her favourite dance. The girl is then asked to "show me your partner" and she points to a friend and they join her as well. The "brown" girl in the ring traditionally refers to the children's skin tone that is prevelant in the caribbean and it's thought to enhance their self esteem as the song tries to give off a positive vibe. Nalo Hopkinson had chosen the title Brown Girl in the Ring for the novel because as she was writing, she realized that the character Ti - Jeanne that was surrounded by the lack of choices, and the people and situations that surround her ask her to she them what she can do, Ti - Jeanne has to learn very quickly on what she can do.

It's evident that Nalo Hopkinson has intended this read for a variety of audiences. People that have grown up around cultural folk tales and urban fantasies can heavily relate to this book as it brings them back to their childhood memories. Memories that consists of their elderly telling them stories about monsters, and fairy tales at bedtime. In the novel Gros - Jeanne also know as Ti - Jeanne's grandmother, helps Ti-Jeanne, the protagonist, to understand the visions that she keeps having and also teaches her more about Obeah, knows as folk magic and sorcery in the West Indies. Throughout the novel both of the women share a strong bond that allows the audience to reflect on their relationships with their parents and children. Brown Girl in the Ring is a novel that is deeply embedded in feminism as it draws the attention of women that go through motherhood. Ti - Jeanne's feelings towards motherhood are conflicted, they are very compelling and honest throughout the story as any mother can relate to them. Moreover she is a single mother and is trying to avoid her baby's father because he is not the best as Tony is a drug addict. This situation is very relatable to single mothers around the world. Having a partner who is your child's father which isn't finally, emotionally, or just up to no good is not the type of support a women needs when she is experiencing motherhood for the first time. Not only does the novel consists of mainly female characters that contribute to feminism but the wisdom, sanity, and hope that lies in the novel is very much connected to the relationships between the women's.