Plot Summary
The African American Brownie troop of six young girls discovers the “invaders” at Camp Crescendo, a summer camp close to the southern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. When the black girls first saw the white females, they did not like them. The African American Brownie group received confirmation over four days that one of the white girls did indeed use the racial epithet. With tactics like “beating” the White females or stuffing “daddy-long-legs” in their sleeping bags, they prepare a “lesson” for the opposing group. A secret meeting is arranged to discuss the lesson and the following events culminating in the “messy, with leaves and wads of chewing gum on the floor” camp restroom (Packer 261). The plot takes an unexpected turn when the African American girls hear that the White girl’s troop includes “delayed learners” with “special needs” who suffer from the illness “Echolalia”. While recounting her father’s tale about a Mennonite household, Laurel (the narrator) concludes. The family works for him without being paid or thanked. They are “clad in distinctive costume.” According to Laurel’s memory of her father, “that was the only time he’d have a white man on his knees doing something for a black man for free” (Packer 266).
The Maturing Process in the âComing of Ageâ Story
Coming of age is a common theme in literature, where the protagonist undergoes a period of growth and development from childhood to adulthood. It demonstrates the changes the protagonist undergoes to understand better some deep concepts that had eluded them, or it could simply be about the enhanced reasoning and understanding of the protagonist. Sometimes, it manifests as a change in behavior or attitudes towards concepts entirely unfamiliar to them initially. “Brownies” by ZZ Packer, can be characterized as a “coming of age” story because the protagonist undergoes various changes, sometimes successfully, sometimes less successfully, as she develops from one stage to the other. Perhaps the most notable thing about the character is the nickname that she earned when she was in Grade One. In one way, the nickname does act as a symbol of stunted growth and development.
Laurel earned the nickname “snot” when she was too young, but she has managed to keep it for years, which means that she must have demonstrated to the others that it was okay to call her that based on her mannerism. She is silenced and cannot speak freely, showing that “snot” has maintained her weak position of innocence and naivete for years without wanting to stand up to others. However, several signs throughout the story support the idea that Laurel is indeed undergoing the “coming of age” process. Firstly, although the girls do not listen to her, they do when she suggests the best time to attack Troop 909. She came up with the idea of when it was the best time to launch an attack, and although she hesitated and said she did not want to attack their adversaries, she still went ahead, as she did not stay behind like Daphne.
Another reason that the story can be characterized as a “coming of age” story is that it describes the interaction between a black group and a white group in a “physical” or “real sense” following a period of assumptions about each other. This means that, although the two groups belong to the same school, neither had a chance to meet the other in a confrontation or a conversation physically. It appears that the black group keeps to itself and that the white group remains as a unit without a black girl amongst them. The two groups do not share space or time, which is evident from the readings, and it seems that they do not mind the self-isolation even though they have not come out explicitly to explain or support their positions. Like Laurel, the group has experienced tremendous change in its ideas and concepts throughout the story, and the protagonist has been a key part of the process. Laurel questions the beliefs and assumptions held by her group concerning their attitudes towards the white troop and suggests that maybe they had not insulted them. The group does not listen, although no one exactly knows whether the insult happened.
Laurel shares a personal story about a time when her father asked the Mennonites to paint his porch, which they did, as they do not refuse requests. Mennonites are white, and her father was happy that it was the only time she would be able to see anyone from the race bent over to work for a black person for free. Laurel had not understood what her father said when he said. During their trip back home, Laurel instantly knew that there was inequality and prejudice in the world between different races and that there was a history she could not erase just so easily. White people had received free labor from black people for years. Yet, they could not reciprocate in ways that a black person could appreciate. Her father had not thanked the Mennonites when they helped. Suddenly Laurel recognizes that there is just “something mean” in the world that she cannot stop” (Packer 267). Laurel comes of age throughout the story. She begins as a snot, but later she connects ideas that had been foreign to her since childhood.
Work Cited
Packer, ZZ. “18. Brownies.” Best of Times, Worst of Times. New York University Press, 2011. 248-267.