Blog Post 10: Little Limpy

In this time period, African American's had it hard. In 'Song of Solomon' chapter 3, there is a man name Railroad Tommy. He was giving Milkman and Guitar some sort of life lecture about things they would not have in life. "Who's teasing? I'm telling him the truth. He ain't going to have it" (Railroad Tommy pg.60) African Americans knew they had it hard. There is reference in chapter 3 that says, "He knew he as a Negro he wasn't going to get a big slice of pie" (Morrison pg.63) Milkman also had it hard growing up. Feather would not let him and Guitar into his bar just because he was Macon's son. "What his daddy do to you? Nothing yet. that's why I want him outta here. He ain't like his daddy. He aim'y got to be like him-from his is enough" ( Feather/Guitar pg.57) Toni Morrison makes Milkman as a limp character. "By the time Milkman was fourteen he had noticed that one of his legs was shorter than the other." (Morrison pg.62) The fact of Milkman being limp, symbolizes how hard life was for him growing up. After he gives himself a look in the mirror, he learns that what he knows about his family, is not even true. Family is a very important factor for us while growing up. They are the ones who help us grow into what we are today. After he finds out that his mom and dad had lied to him he begins to wonder and ask himself if what he knew was real or fake about his family.  Ruth and her dad have more than just a father-daughter relationship in chapter 3. "In the bed. That's where she was when I opened the door. Laying next to him. Naked as a yard dog, kissing him. Him dead and white and puffy and skinny, and she had his fingers in her mouth" (Morrison pg.73) Even Milkman starts to love Hagar more than just family, "Sleeping with Hagar had made him generous. Or so he thought. Wide-spirited. Or so he imagined." (Morrison pg.69) Milkman has some sort of thing for Hagar, more than just family love.