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Brown Girl Dreaming - Impact of religion

 In Brown girl Dreaming By Jaquline Woodson religion isn't a big concept but I felt that it would be fun to write about. I grew up Christian and still am and it has impacted me. Jaqueline grew up religious as well. She didn't understand why she had to go to the hall and why she had to follow a certain schedule but she was also too young to understand. her grandmother had decided that if she was living with them they would be going to church as well. In "Another Kingdom hall" Pg 160 is when we see they first start going to church.  In Flag on page 162 we see the impact that religion has on Jaqueline in school. 

"Every morning, I walk out with Gina and Alina the two other Witnesses in my class. 

Sometimes, Gina says, 

Maybe we should pray for the kids inside 

who don’t know that God said 

“No other idols before me.” That our God is

 a jealous God. 

Gina is the true believer. Her Bible open 

during reading time. But Alina and I walk through 

our roles as Witnesses as though this is the part

we’ve been given in a play

 and once offstage, we run free, 

sing “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” 

far away from our families—knowing every word. 

Alina and I want 

more than anything to walk back into our classroom

press our hands against our hearts. Say, 

“I pledge allegiance . . .” loud 

without our jealous God looking down on us. 

Without our parents finding out. 

Without our mothers’ voices in our heads saying, You are different. 

Chosen. 

Good. 


When the pledge is over, we walk single file 

back into the classroom, take our separate seats 

Alina and I far away from Gina. But Gina 

always looks back at us—as if to say, 

I’m watching you. As if to say, 

I know." ( Woodson 162-163)

We see here that Jaquline wanted to be able to sing the pledge of allegiance but couldn't because of her religion. She feels she is always being watched and that she is going through a play. Just acting out the good girl of being a Jehovah witness. Throughout the story we see she isn't really committed. She doesn't want to walk door to door telling people about her. I think she almost felt embarrassed by her religion. We also know she doesn't like the schedule that she follows for each day of the week. But it helps her know that she always has to keep track of what day it is so that she will do what she needs to do for each day. When you are young religion doesn't seem that big of a deal but you do feel forced into it. As you grow and learn you can decide if that is the path you want to take. It's harder when it's forced on you rather than it being a choice. 


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