Powder Necklace by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond : National Identity and Privilege

The story of a teenage girl coming of age, Lila, was born and raised in London, parents are Ghanaian, now divorced, and lives with her mother. Lila’s mother is extremely bitter about the divorce, although we later learn her mother left her father, because of that Lila finds a unique balance between surpassing her mother’s standards, she believes if she is a wonderful daughter she’ll stay out of trouble with her mother, and satisfying her adolescent curiosity. Her mother’s two lessons are that, “everything happens for God’s good reason” and “boys…only wanted to spoil me”. In an effort to avoid a group of guys making calls to Lila as she walks home from school, a male friend, Ev, becomes her escort. The routine is for Ev to walk Lila home, complete their homework together, play video games then he leaves, unknown to her mother of course and before she gets home from work. One night her mother finds Lila home playing video games with Ev and the next day Lila finds herself on a plane headed to an aunt in Ghana for an unknown period of time.

Lila has never been outside of London much less in a place without a steady source of available water, paved roads, etc. and the first two things she notices are the temperature and personal hygiene habits of her new environment. Lila’s Aunt Irene welcomes her to the country, however, thinking this is a punishment for the night she was caught with Ev, Lila repeatedly explains to her mother that it was a misunderstanding every chance she gets. It is Aunt Irene who explains that her mother needs a "break" and she will be enrolled into Dadaba Girls Secondary School until she is able to return home.

Although Lila was raised by a Ghanaian mother, understands, but does not speak, Twi, she readily distinguishes herself from the other girls by faking ignorance of the language, accepting the title broni (white girl) and actions that have her classmates in servitude to her, which is until her knowledge of the language is discovered. It is in Ghana where Lila truly establishes her national identity (English) and because of this establishment the inherent privileges to which they are associated. The fact that she regularly wears jeans, her accent, reaction to tasks she is requested to complete, abundance of funds, snacks and other things, (purchased specifically to share with the other girls) contributes both to how she perceives herself and by others. Although she reflects on the differences to which she, versus her classmates, identifies, Lila takes advantage of her privileges to the full extent. In the next post we will discuss the effects of her experiences upon her return to London. As for now her mother says that this is for her good and God does everything for a reason, to which she has trouble subscribing.

Reading and reflecting on the perception of privilege in this context helped me finally realize what my History professor was trying to get me to understand. We were studying the formation of classes within a society and I stubbornly argued that a person’s class is associated by their financial status, period. My professor, however, explained to me that class is determined by economics and lifestyle, but the lifestyle part I could not get around because, at least for me, one’s lifestyle was determined by their finances. I don’t know why it took me so long to see it, that happens, but I have more of an understanding now than I would have previously been able to discuss. Even reflecting on my own life, my own circles, area I shop and refuse to shop, versus my paycheck (not that I’m breaking the bank to do it) further helps me understand.

There will be two more posts on subjects this book arises which is a good enough reason to continue reading. Until next time…Mella