Titles in literature are often very significant, and the
title of Toni Cade Bambara's story "Blues Ain't No Mockingbird" is no exception. For
those from the South, the mockingbird is a common sight; so, like the Finches in Harper
Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, this bird's meaning is well-known. It
is a rather large bird that imitates the song of other birds, singing much of the day.
It is gentle and "sings its heart out" in imitation, but it is also very territorial and
fiercely defends its nest.
The Blues also generate from the
South; they began as an expression of the displaced African-American person. The lyrics
of the blues address life's troubles and people's personal relationships. Very emotive,
the blues are genuine expressions of feelings--They are not mockeries of real feeling.
In Toni Bambara's story, what Granny feels is real and should not be mocked. When these
feelings of Granny--her need for privacy, her demand for respect, and her pride are
genuine; they are no mockery. Her reaction to the intrusion of the white filmmakers,
indeed, expresses the meaning of the title.
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