

Doubtless because of his mom's expectations for him, he remains keenly aware of his position as representative of black communities in the university. He was not eager to embrace the natural spotlight which his ethnic background demanded. Laymon was a passive student, contenting himself with fulfilling expectations. "There was too much at stake to ask questions, to be dumb, to be a curious student, in the front of a room of white folk who assumed all black folk were intellectually less than them." Laymon In this exchange, however, he realized how he was using food as a coping mechanism for his own dilemma of self-worth. He remembers when he first turned to food to satisfy his need for safety and approval. Laymon chronicles his struggle with weight at length. "When I was scared, I ran to cakes, because cakes felt safe, private and celebratory." Laymon She had hoped to prepare Laymon for a life of greater privilege by raising him to behave more educated than his peers, but they still live in a community which does not respects her methods. His peers bullied him for his family's perceived snobbery, resulting in just the opposite of his mom's intention. He recalls how her insistence on proper grammar and good impressions led to his own suffering in school. Laymon addresses his mother in this book. ".The way you overpronounced your words and insisted on correcting everyone whose subjects and verbs didn't agree made black folk in Jackson think we had plenty of lunch money." Laymon Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.
