"Building Bridges" Reading Response

Mohammed Islam 711 10/27/14 ELA Essay

“Mama Lil hated the six studs I wore in my left ear; I hated the tacky red hair wig she pulled down close to her eyebrows whenever her hair wasn’t done.” This line is just a grand parent and her grandchild argue because they both think different . The short story, “ Building Bridges,” by Andrea Pinkney is about how a 17 year old girl named Bebe has one dream, and that’s to become an engineer. The dream of hers can start from a rebuilding bridge project that she got the opportunity to do. All she needs to do to is get a signature from her guardian Mama Lil. But unfortunately, Mama Lil refuses to give in her signature because of past experiences and the two would have arguments about the opportunity. Eventually Mama Lil signs the paper after Bebe persuades to let her go. But, the only reason and Mama Lil and Bebe were having arguments about the whole topic of engineering is because the young and the elderly are from different generations making them have different perspectives  on things from their knowledge, which this short story brings out.

For one thing, the youth and the elderly can argue on each others appearances. Mama Lil thinks Bebe’s style will never land her anywhere. On page 18, Mama Lil says, “How you ever gonna land a decent man with them chunky arms and those hoochie-cut T-shirts that put your navel on parade.” Mama Lil being from an older time might not have been used to their modern day style. Back then, people could’ve wore more formal clothing that shows less skin. In Bebe’s time, people could where more loose clothing that shows a little  more skin. In Bebe’s perspective, on page 19 she says, “When some homey tries to snatch all that shiny tin off your seventy-three-year-old neck, don’t come crying to me.” In Bebe’s more modern time there could be more crimes and thievery, where in Mama Lil’s time it maybe wasn’t that bad. Also during Mama Lil’s times people would try to show off their wealth, by wearing fancy things such as gold chains. Because of how people are in Bebe’s time compared to Mama Lil’s time, they both think different about appearance and how you can get affected by the way you dress.

Another example of Mama Lil and Bebe had different views  on things from experience  is that Mama Lil didn’t want to sign the permission slip because of racist and stereotypical  issues. On page 21, Mama Lil says, “whatever you call it, it’s a white man’s work.” Mama Lil used to live in a time where white people and black people were drinking from different water fountains, a place where if you were black you would have to give up your seat in a bus for a white man, a time where white people absolutely  hated african americans. Mama Lil could’ve thought bad things could happen if Bebe tried to do this so called white man’s work. Also Mama Lil could think that it can be hard for Bebe because she is a women. On page 20 Mama Lil states, “If God had meant you to do a man’s work, he would’ve made you a man. It’s that simple.” Mama Lil lived in a time where it wasn’t just unfair for black people, but it wasn’t fair for women. Women didn’t have many rights, they were seen as just people who would stay home  take care of the house, children and men. Women didn’t even have the right to vote. Mama Lil could’ve thought the men at the job would’ve been harsh on Bebe because she was the only girl working on the bridge. Because of all these issues Blacks and women had to face, Mama Lil thinks that these issues can strike Bebe and make it hard for her.

A final example of how Mama Lil and Bebe argue because of their different views is the actual reason why Mama Lil didn’t want to sign the permission slip. In Mama Lil’s perspective, she found the building bridge project as a way for her to be all alone. On page 29, Mama Lil says, “Your dreams are the kind that will take you away from here, Bebe- away from your Mama Lil. You got big hopes, child, but they gonna leave me alone, by myself.” Bebe found the project as a chance for her to become an engineer. Mama Lil in the contrary also finds the project as an opportunity, an opportunity for Bebe to leave her all alone. If Bebe goes to the Brooklyn Bridge project, then eventually she might get another opportunity, but that opportunity could be one that might make her have to leave Mama Lil. Then Bebe tells Mama Lil on page 29, “ Mama Lil, I got to find my way,” I said slowly. “If that bridge renovation wasn’t tapping on my soul, I’d go ahead and sweep hair down at Rimley’s.”Bebe does know that Mama Lil is correct. She feels more sympathy for Mama Lil, knowing that they only have each other. But, as she said, she has to find her own way. She wants this bridge project badly, she wanted it more than anything. That’s why she didn’t want that job application for Rimley’s. Mama Lil thought the project as a bad thing, a way she can be all alone with no one, but Bebe still thought the project as a great thing, a direction toward the path she has so follow in order to achieve what she wants, another disagreement because of different views.

In conclusion Mama Lil and Bebe argue a lot because they have different experiences because they were born in different time periods. Both had different perspective on appearance,  racial profiling and how one thing can affect them positively or negatively. Andrea Pinkney did a great job on accomplishing this message, by showing what each person were thinking during the arguments they had. Also, she shows how each character reacted to what the other one said. Mama Lil had many regrets about letting Bebe go. Both of them will have to go through a lot, but still will have bright futures, Bebe getting what she wants and Mama Lil cheering her on.