Black Shack Alley by Joseph Zobel

Joseph Zobel’s ” Black Shack Alley” is a deep and fascinating story that explores the complexities of identity, family, and societal expectations. It is a touching and vivid depiction of life in Martinique. The story follows José, a young child facing the difficulties of puberty in a culture characterized by racial and cultural divisions, amidst poverty and colonial oppression. I, as a reader was taken to a world where privilege, power, and beauty all coexist, providing a complex examination of the human condition through José’s eyes.

José’s relationship with his grandmother M’man Tine, a deep and complex depiction of maternal love and sacrifice, is at the centre of the book. Zobel provides readers with an incredibly personal and emotionally gripping picture of the human condition as she delves into topics of family dynamics, obligation, and a search for identity through their interactions. His grandmother reminded me of my grandparents who would tell the workers to pluck sugarcane from our fields and we could eat them all day long! 

Later in the book we learn the obstacles faced by Jose in the field of education, where all his classmates are wealthier. We, along with Jose, learn about race and social injustice which has a significantly negative impact on his academic performance and self-esteem. M’man Tine’s health slowly declines while Jose struggles with his personal life and his academics and she eventually passes away. 

I could not help but relate the story to that of Agistino, especially where Jose would go and meet his group of friends whenever M’man Tine would leave the shack to go work. The only difference is that Jose’s friendship was very pure compared to that of Agostino who was often verbally abused by his peers. Just like that, Jose’s interaction with people is that of innocence and kindness as one would expect from a child.

In conclusion, I think Zobel did a wonderful job at explaining the human complexities and the role education plays in the course of one’s self-growth and thus my question to you is Which do you believe had a bigger influence on Joe’s life—his struggles with poverty, which helped him become somewhat of a street smarts, or his schooling, which helped him acquire knowledge? Or both?