Last week, we touched upon the diverging philosophies of the '90s and '60s. In earlier weeks, we've looked at '80s excess and '70s artistic endeavors. This week, let's venture even earlier to a memoir of a strong woman who lived through turbulent times. Here's our book at a glance… Author: Hettie Jones Title: "How I Became Hettie Jones" (1990) Number of Pages: 239 in the 1996 Grove Press Edition Contender:Amiri Baraka (AKA LeRoi Jones)
When I was little, my father wrote a script for my Beanie Babies. Basically, a snake fell for an octopus in Paris, but a "Beat" kangaroo complicated matters along the way. I asked my dad what a Beat was and why the kangaroo only spoke in rhyme. My dad explained that Beats were people in the '50s who wore black and enjoyed poetry. That's a toned−down, kid−savvy understatement.
I'm no authority on the Beat Generation, all my knowledge having come to me through Professor Ronna Johnson's "Topics Lit & Culture: Writing In the Beat Generation" class. But, to me, the Beats of the Beat Generation were the original hipsters. They did wear black and frequent coffeehouses where they shared their poetry with one another. And, they also were free spirits — participating in excess and alternative lifestyles, as well as philosophizing on the state of human relations. They enjoyed Eastern religion and rejected consumerism. They came onto the scene after World War II and were personified by writers like Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. Hettie Jones gives a fresh perspective on the Beats in her memoir, "How I Became Hettie Jones."
There's no doubt that many of the Beats' works are column−worthy. However, I chose Jones' story because it's particularly special. With women during this generation already placed under strict gender constructs, it would be difficult and rare for a woman to join the Beat "club." I guess today's examples would be trying to play football as a girl, or joining the cheerleading team as a guy: sort of rough. Yet, Jones married a Beat and wrote poetry, even starting and becoming editor for the literary magazine"Yugen" with LeRoi Jones.
"How I Became Hettie Jones" is interesting in that Jones was close to the Beats and people like Ginsberg, Kerouac and her husband, LeRoi Jones. However, beyond this superficial name−dropping level, the memoir is an interesting perspective on the feminist movement. It proves the difficulties for women and their struggle for rights in an era that is not so far gone.
Jones' memoir is also interesting for its discussion of experiences as being part of an interracial couple. It relates how she was verbally threatened when with her African−American husband. After having children, she realized they too might have to face a world that she never inhabited. Even her own husband fell for social constructs in their later divorce. This kind of prejudice is thankfully mostly unfamiliar to us. I doubt your significant other being of a similar race rates higher above them being interesting or considerate, etc. It's eye−opening to look back and witness Jones' consistent struggle to find an identity under forced racism and sexism.
However, this memoir points out how much further we need to fight against complacency and for equality in everyone's own futures. In this way, it's an important book for all of us to read. In a university with specific clubs or institutions for every kind of individual, it is amazing that we are able to celebrate humankind in all our varying ways. Yet, at the same time, it's important not to be divided among these lines.
A current teacher at The New School in New York City, Jones and her resulting memoir are fascinating and thought−provoking. Though her book can occasionally be heartbreaking and painful to read, Jones shows us the courage one needs to pursue their passions.
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