Invisible Mass of the Back Row

• The Invisible Mass of the Back Row - written by Williams
• The Invisible Mass of the Back Row -

  Quotes -

  • ‘I can feel the others in the back row feeling proud’
  • ‘Stand up. Recite the adventures of Columbus’
  • ‘Who will make sure that the weeds do not choke the roses’
  • ’You can choose from Mother, Mummy, Mum’
  • ’Voices are raised, claiming, proclaiming, learning the new language in dis here England’
• The Invisible Mass of the Back Row -

  Context -

  • Mass migration from Caribbean to England in 1950s-60s - migrants arrived to hostility and discrimination
  • ’Invisible mass’ = oxymoron
  • ’Invisible’ = no voice/identity/value
  • ’Mass’ = objectifies back row/no longer individuals
• The Invisible Mass of the Back Row -

  Summary -

  • Hortense rebels - suggesting Columbus wasn’t welcome in Jamaica
  • Conflict between poor (Hortense) and rich (Lorne)
  • Lunchtime with poor, black community - belonging/happiness
  • Hortense prepares to leave for England
  • Flashback to death of Cousy - old, close relative
  • Arrives in England
  • Put in ‘back row’ with other poor, Jamaican girls
  • Rebels/Finds her voice