Kimberley Mills October 15, 2012 English 201 Dr.

Knodt Generational Racism Everything That Rises Must Converge, conveys the racist perceptions and the broken lines of communication between whites and blacks, stemming from post-civil war anxiety. Julian, who leads us though the story, is at odds with his mother because she is from a time where whites were, by law, superior to blacks and he wants her to change her mindset and accept blacks as complete equals, but she cannot. Julians mother grew up on a plantation therefore, she considers all blacks inferior and she refuses to adapt to the changing roles in society. Julian does not realize that his pitiful sentiments towards the black race make him a different kind of racist. Flannery OConners Southern upbringing and education during the civil segregation in the South gave way to her own evaluation and understanding of types of prejudice and racism. The relationship between Julian and his mother is interesting because he wants to control her and he wishes to change her. He resents her for being unwilling to accept blacks as equals and he wants her to interact with blacks to teach her better. Julians mother doesnt present her racism as hatred or anger towards blacks because she isnt prejudiced but based on her upbringing and understanding of white supremacy she keeps the lines that separate whites and blacks apparent. With the world in the mess its in its a wonder we can enjoy anything. I tell you the bottom rail is on the top (325). This new way of life, which is normal for Julian, is not normal to his mother is stuck in her past, her eyes, sky blue, were as innocent and untouched by experience as they were when she was ten (324. Julians frustration stems from the

miscommunication of emotions and the misunderstandings between him and his mother. She wants what is best for her son but her childlikeness and her inability to conquer the changing times leads Julian to resent his mother and he feels guilty about his resentment at the same time. Julian thought he could have stood a lot better is she had been selfish, if she had been an old hag who drank and screamed at him (325). Julians perception of blacks is present as pity for them that was manifested in the younger generations. Julian felt sorry for his mother who did not move along and integrate, and he also felt sorry for black people who were looked down upon by people like his mother and the women that rode the bus with them. I see we have the bus to ourselves for a change (327). Julian feels like it is his duty to help the black people and he wants to disprove his mothers idea about black people as a whole. He wants to control both sides by pitying blacks and putting them on a pedestal in order to show his mother that they can be intelligent and cultured too. While riding the bus a black man gets on and Julian begins to consider a plan to teach, more like taunt, his mother, Julian rose, crossed the aisle[to sit next to the Negro] from this position he looked serenely across at his mother. Her face had turned an angry red. He stared at her, making his eyes the eyes of a stranger (328). In this way, Julian reveals his prejudice, he would have liked to get in conversation with the negro and to talk about art or politics or any subject that would be above the comprehension of those around them There was no way for Julian to convey his sympathy (328). Everything That Rises Must Converge fits its time and place because it shows the social strain and misunderstandings amongst coloreds and whites. The time after the civil rights movement called for a new connection between the races, and there were those on either side of the fence who never adjusted and those, like Julian, who would have liked to force them to

merge. OConner, filtered through Julians perceptions, shows us how dynamic racism is and that there are more ways than one to be racist. She conveys racism that is learned like Julians mother, and racism that is taught, like Julian. Although he tries his hardest not to be like his mother, Julian still recognizes the lines of separation that his mother pointed out for him and he spent his time trying to show her the new lines of separation which made blacks to be more like things to be understood than average men and women. He began to imagine various unlikely ways by which he could teach her a lesson. He might make friends with some distinguished Negro professor or lawyer he would be entirely satisfied but her blood pressure would rise to 300 (329). The title Everything That Rises Must Converge means that all people at some point will have to come together and begin to build better connections and have better communication in order to avoid tragedy. At the end of the story when Julians mother is hit by the black woman for trying to give her son a penny, OConner demonstrates to us that, yes, African Americans have begun to rise, but blacks and whites were and sometimes still, are unable to converge because they have no genuine understanding of each other. I found it interesting that OConner uses the ugly hat as a connection between races, That hat does something for you and you do something for the hat, and besides with that hat, you wont meet yourself coming and going (325), that quote is significant in OConners theme that blacks and whites have to learn to be on better terms because, in the end we all, as people, reflect each other. Julians mother cannot grasp that the black mother is in the same position she is in, raising her son, and that they are a reflection of each other, that was your black double (333).