Caucasia pgs. 83-132
After reading the second part of Caucasia, I have a million questions that i would love to have answered. The first one and probably the one that will be talked about the most is, what has Sandy done that has caused the FBI to pursue her? We get some ideas that it has to do with the men that Cole and Birdie saw out there window that one night but we are never actually told what she has done. With that question arises another, Why is it that Cole, Carmen and Birdies father left to go to Brazil? Did they know of the trouble that was to come and thought it was best to flee because all three of them had characteristics that were marked African American? Also what was with Redbone? I was officially freaked out when i read the section where he is standing behind the fence near the kids playground and how he takes pictures of Birdie? Something definitely seemed up but i just couldn’t figure it out. I hope that the remainder of the book answers these questions.
Along with the question i liked how Sandy and Birdie came up with whole new identities as a way to disguise themselves from the FBI. Birdie changed her name to Jesse and Sandy changed her name to Sheila. They came up with back stories and everything. Birdie/Jesse was said to be half-jewish which i was kind of surprised by. As i read through the passage i was thinking that they would have chose Italian or Sicilian since individuals in the past had said that Birdie looked like she could be that. I guess the fact that Birdie had characteristics that were marked White worked out well for Sandy because the FBI were looking for a white mother with her black child. I can’t wait to find out what comes next in this book.
So here’s my problem with the new identity, Sandra wanted Birdie to be Jewish, Birdie wanted to be something else, Sandy just kind of molded Birdie’s identity for her. I really think this hurts Birdie’s chance of forming her own identity. Once again, Birdie’s identity and whole self are created by someone else and for something else. Cole was the first to represent who Birdie is, first through reflection and later so as not to lose Cole. Now she’s being formed around her mother’s imagination and and reminiscence of Birdie’s grandfather. This is kind of getting unhealthy.
I have the same questions as well. I’m really curious as to what their mother was doing outside with the men and what was in the duffel bags. I’m also confused as to why the FBI is following Birdie and her mother. She must have done something really bad/illegal lol.
I also have TONS of questions, I want to know what the hell is going on with this family…. by the way, WHY BRAZIL! Just too many questions for one reading, I want to know about this Redbone guy, I want to know what nasty buissness and tomfoolery he is up to, Whatever it is, its not good. I think that is the problem that caused her this because her ex-husband was warning the kids to look out for this guy and all of the sudden here he is… I don’t think this is the last of him either.