Why do you think the author wrote Cathy as guarded and disciplined, a withholding mother. What was she implying about black women achievers in the 1850s?

Libertie's emotions are vibrant. She's passionate. And then she's angry. And then she's excited. Cathy is controlled and detailed. Why do you think Kaitlyn Greenidge wrote Cathy as guarded and disciplined, a withholding mother. What was she implying about black women achievers in the 1850s?

Cathy had lost her husband and she didn't want the pain of losing her daughter. She wanted Libertie to be a strong woman someday, so she put of walls and avoided showing outright expressions of love.
Black women in that time had to overcome so much to be successful and have a career. Cathy had to uphold a certain standard to be accepted. She was light-skinned enough to treat white women, but doing that was walking a tightrope.

Maybe Cathy was preparing Libertie for how the world was likely to treat her. While she could tell her how it might be, Libertie wouldn't understand without feeling it, but it's sad she had to feel it from her mother. Cathy had had enough struggles of her own and I would think needed to shut off a part of herself to survive.

Cathy was educated and a doctor and her career was important to her. She wanted the same for Libertee. Instead of being the loving caring mother she was a mother wanting to teach her daughter to want the same life she did. She wanted her daughter to be educated. In her own way she loved Libertee but had a different way of showing the love.

It took resolve and discipline for Cathy to become a doctor. As a child, Cathy watched her sister die because a white man wouldn't accompany her father to seek care from a white doctor.
Libertie's birth renewed Cathy's hopes for the future; but she believed that she had to withhold love and praise in order to make Libertie strong enough to live within an unjust world. Cathy focused instead on educating Libertie, with the hopes that Libertie would carry on her work.

Black women achievers in the 1850’s were always on thin ice. They had to navigate among beliefs that women should be seen and not heard, especially since many black women were still slaves. Free black women were still at risk for being mistreated, therefore always needing to be on guard. Cathy probably felt that any show of affection was a sign of weakness and vulnerability.

To be a free black woman doctor treating white patients was such a rarity. Cathy had to tread lightly and accept slights and mistreatment. Libertie is too young and sheltered to realize the sacrifices that her mother has made to provide for her and to aid escaping slaves. I felt the portrayal of Cathy was very accurate.

I agree with Marilyn. I think she was trying to prepare her for an unjust world. She believed with holding love would make her a stronger woman than if she had been kind and loving to her. What she had to go through to become a Doctor was the future she saw for her daughter.

I think this speaks to even how a lot of black women feel they need to be today to be "safe" in this world. It is sad but a true harsh reality they face, if only in their inner fears. Black women feel they have to keep it all together and can't make a single mistake. The world is a lot less just and a lot less forgiving (and just plain harder) for black women. This was ESPECIALLY true during the time period.

Oh my gosh! Why wouldn't Libertie's mother NOT be guarded & disciplined? I remind myself this is Civil War era with slaves, the Underground Railroad, totally racism. Imagine what a woman - a BLACK woman - had to do to "do anything" must less become a doctor. If she had been WARM & FUZZY I don't think I could believe that characteristic - Maybe there are mothers who can achieve both unconditional love & the desire to see a daughter accomplish a professional life but that would be an entirely different story line. The author had to depict a strong willed, harsh mother who although she loved her daughter, her way of expressing it was through ambition goals.

Being Black and a Woman was a mountain Cathy had climbed but she new the cost and she had to tow a very tight line to continue to practice while aiding slaves to freedom. Yes, colorism gave her some advantages but those where like putting a bandaid on a broken bone penetrating skin! She was tuff on Libertie because she knew the price would be even higher for her and to have the best education was to have the best opportunities. I do think Cathy pushed Libertie into medicine as part of her dream of them practicing together but she also knew it would be an amazing opportunity for her daughter to excel in life. I think she was tough on herself as well as Libertie out of necessity. The story ending was hopeful that maybe they could forge a new more understanding relationship.