Essay Questions

How significant is the title ‘My Grandmother’s Hands?’

The grandmother's hands are symbolic, and they represent torture, mistreatment and ill-treatment of the blacks in America. The author hints that his grandmother's hands were disfigured after picking cotton at the age of four. Therefore, the title is significant because it reminds readers that bigotry against black people started many years ago. Unfortunately, in contemporary America, African Americans continue to face discrimination in various aspects, which deny them the opportunity of living like white people.

What is the origin of racism, according to the author?

The author hints that racism did not start yesterday, but it commenced in the earlier centuries by the Americans of European descent that used Africans as labour tools. Consequently, the colonial Americans did not view black people as human beings but considered them as energetic animals to serve the white man. Consequently, the ideology of viewing black people as inferior has been passed from one generation to the other to date.

Is nurturing buoyancy in our bodies and gracefulness in our brains the best move toward healing prejudiced trauma?

The history of prejudiced traumatized black people in America cannot be washed away easily by legislation. The government puts policies that ensure fair treatment for all regardless of race. However, the author notifies readers that racist ideologies are deeply rooted in the blood of the American whites. Therefore, the best way of helping black people heal from prejudiced trauma is to foster resilience and flexibility among all people.