Racism in Margaret Laurence’s Short Story “The Loons”
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Racism in Margaret Laurence’s “The Loons”
One of the themes in Margaret Laurence’s short story, “The Loons”, is that of racism. Racism is discrimination based on one’s ethnic or racial features and origin. It can be categorized as polite racism where people of one ethnic group perpetrate actions that are meant to lower the standing of the people of another ethnic group. Discrimination can also manifest as systematic racism, which involves segregation where members of a specific ethnicity are intentionally barred from a group. Systemic racism is an institutionalized form of discrimination where people of a particular group are denied opportunities through policies, regulations and constitutions. Finally, subliminal racism is a subtle form of discrimination involving stereotypes and chauvinism ingrained in the mind.
In this story, all these forms of racism are manifested. The narrator’s mother, grandmother, and the narrator herself practice polite racism. Many residents of the town of Manawaka also practice this form of racism. For instance, remarks by the author that she was “neither friendly nor unfriendly” to Piquette while at the same time speaking disdainfully about her reveals this polite form of racism (Laurence, 1970 pp. 131). That Grandmother MacLeod would rather keep away from the family holiday than share the same space with Piquette shows systematic racism. At the suggestion by Ewan, the author’s father, that he would invite Piquette to their holiday cottage, Grandmother MacLeod states that “if that half-breed youngster comes along to Diamond Lake, I’m not going” (Laurence, 1970 pp. 131). She kept her promise true and stayed away and this is a good example of systematic racism perpetrated against Piquette. Systematic racism in the story also manifests itself by the abode of the Tonnerres who are restricted in a small space in Wachakwa Valley while the other ethnic groups live away from them.
Systemic racism is seen in the lack of will by the government to address the plight of the Tonnerres who are half Cree and half French and don’t fit in. They are not in the mainstream in education, health, socio-cultural aspects, or in employment and they are truly marginalized. The only positive thing is when the Diamond Lake is renamed as Lake Wakapata in order to give it an Indian feel to attract tourists. However, rather than help, the Tonnerres and other marginalized groups become empowered; the government uses their history to seek for money. The narrator practices subliminal racism by stereotyping the Tonnerres when she says that PiquetteTonnerre had a “face totally unfamiliar with laughter” (Laurence, 1970 pp. 131). Other forms of stereotyping are evidenced by the author’s perception of Indians as people who are spiritual and have supernatural powers, are well skilled in environmental issues, and are wise. The story also depicts the Tonnerres as alcoholics. All these are examples of subliminal racism.
The story offers several invaluable lessons about the roots of racism. The first is that racism is usually planted in childhood and can become deeply ingrained in the young ones. As a child, Vanessa had a particular disdain for the Tonnerres. She writes that “Piquette existed for me only as a vaguely embarrassing presence, with her hoarse voice and her clumsy limping walk…she dwelt and moved somewhere within my scope of vision” (Laurence, 1970 pp 131).The second is that adults help to perpetuate racism in their children and make it a generational thing. According to the author’s grandmother, “the Tonnerres were neither flesh, [neither] fowl, nor good salt herring” (Laurence, 1970 pp. 131). Grandmother MacLeod said this in the full hearing of her grandchildren and this shaped their perceptions and attitudes against the Tonnerres. Another example of adults’ shaping their children’s perceptions towards members of other ethnicities is revealed by Vanessa’s mother and grandmother shock at the suggestion by Ewen that they should take along Piquetteon their holiday. Vanessas’s mother says that she cannot stay near Piquet, remarking that “I’ll bet anything she has nits in her hair” (Laurence, 1970 pp. 132).
Much in the same way, adults can help stop their children from being racist. In the story, the author’s father took good care of Piquette. Later as a grown up, Piquette reveals to the author that Vanessa’s “dad was only person in Manawaka that ever done anything good” to her (Laurence, 1970 pp. 136).Yet another lesson is that those who are discriminated against suffer stigma that may haunt them for the rest of their lives. The fourth lesson is that
The story has several lessons about the result of racism. First, racism demeansboth the perpetrators and those that are discriminated against. The racism experienced by the Tonnerres made their lives, as with that of the other “half-breeds”, intolerable. Later on, Piquette strives to get the things that she yearned for as a child but the seemingly ideal marriage and life end up destroying her. Piquette becomes a drunk, leads a despondent existence, and dies at a young age along with her children.
The second lesson is that inaction by people who are best placed to protect the marginalized can later return to haunt them. In this story, the author and her mother reminisce about the old days when they could have done something to make the life of Piquette and the Tonnerres more bearable and this leaves them utterly devastated.
People who are discriminated against have various ways they can use to condition themselves against the racism. Piquette adopts an attitude of disdain and disinterest against those she perceives as being discriminatory. Her reluctance to play and engage in any meaningful conversation with the author while on holiday is an example of such conditioning.
The book also shows that positive racism is still wrong. In the book, popular culture where Indians are exalted is cited as the main reason why Vanessa developed some interest in Piquette. However, Vanessa’s attempt to win over Piquette using positive racism fails to work. Finally, role models such as Ewan’s father can help to reduce racism. Other ways through which racism can be reduced is through legislation such as the affirmative action and by individual contacts. In America, affirmative action has helped to reduce some forms of racism such as systematic and systemic racism. Individuals who have played a big role in fighting racism include civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Nelson Mandela is acclaimed as one of the greatest humans in the world’s history due to his fight against segregation in South Africa.
Racism is an important theme in “The Loons,”andtouches the very core of our society’s existence. It is a negation of equality and infringes on the rights of others. It can create disparities and breed resentment and crime, which can ultimately destabilize the entire society. Racism can destroy the lives of people and bring down entire generations as exemplified by the story. The main argument is that everything must be done to reduce racism and everyone must be allowed to lead a life free from discrimination. This will help to enhance stability in the society and protect the rights of everyone. As we see in “The Loons,” the effects of these attitudes and behaviours are deep and painful, but they can be overcome withlegislative laws such as affirmative action, role models, good parentage, and individuals who are committed to equality.