How does racism impact the future Cathy imagines for her daughter? Why is it so important to Cathy that Libertie become a doctor? Why is Libertie's rejection of her dream so devastating for Cathy?

Freeborn, how does racism impact the future Cathy imagines for her daughter? Why is it so important to Cathy that Libertie become a doctor? Why is Libertie's rejection of her mother's dream so devastating for Cathy?

Cathy has been teaching Libertie since she was a child and Libertie seemed to enjoy this education. She liked pleasing her mother. Cathy’s dream/goal is that her daughter will become a doctor and they will be a team. Cathy is devastated when her dream is not to be a reality. Cathy is a light skinned colored woman so I believe an education was fairly easy for her to achieve. Libertie taking after her father is very dark so Cathy is afraid life might not be as easy for her. She believes Libertie’s life will be better as an educated doctor.

Libertie is much darker than Cathy, she will never pass the same way Cathy did. Cathy sees her daughter as an extension of herself, not really as her own person. Cathy sees her role as a mother as one who should mold her daughter into the same person she is. By the end I think both LIbertie and Cathy have learned to see each other as they really are and to love each other for who they are.

Did Cathy think the only way for Libertie to have any kind of independent life was if she became a doctor and a person in her own right. As a non-educated black woman her choices would have been very limited. Was she encouraging her to do this to assure she had a definite role in the world.

The answers to Pink Lady’s two questions is yes and yes. Libertie’s rejection of Cathy’s dream was devastating because she didn’t know how Libertie could avoid being mistreated without a formal education that led to a professional career.

I agree with Joyce, Cathy saw education and career as the way forward for Libertie. She realized how difficult Libertie’s skin color would make her life. Perhaps Libertie would not have rebelled if Cathy had given her other choices of careers, perhaps teacher, seamstress, etc.

I think it was pretty much how most parents feel about their children... she wanted Libertie to have a successful life and to her, that meant becoming a doctor. I don't think that Cathy took into account that it would be harder for Libertie because of her dark skin color to get through school. And the fact, that Libertie really wanted to be her own person.

i think that any reasonable, intelligent mother realizes that education is the only chance a daughter would have to be independent and have some choices in her life. Added to the equation is the fact that her daughter was dark skinned and hatred and resentment are still very strong at this time. medicine is what opened possibilities to Cathy and obviously she was passionate about her career. Thus, it was a a double blow when Libertie rejected her plan.

I think that Cathy was trying to lift Libertie up and give her a purpose and status as a physician. She wanted her to be successful and fulfilled without dependence on a man.

I agree with everyone here that her focus on medicine for Liberties education would be an insurance for a prosperous life for her. It’s also what Cathy knew, and what parent doesn’t dream about how awesome it would be to work together and someday pass down a family business to your child. I believe Cathy was most devastated about Liberties rejection of her plan because she truly feared for the liberties prospects in a racist and patriarchal world.