GRGR(4): "I Wanna Be Black"

[Paul Mackin]

David Morris wrote:

>
>
> I suppose it could be read that way too, but that'd sure take away the
> racial guilt implications in that line, which are later echoed in "Cherokee"
> "one more lie about white crimes."
>

I had an additiional thought about Cherokee. When you read the lyrics you will
very probably assume that the male is a white guy. But when you hear the words
sort of chanted as they are  maybe it's somebody's idea of an indian brave
waxing romantic about his love. Don't know if it's been mentioned but the
alternative  title of the song is "Indian Love Song." I realize this would blow
the whole white crimes thing out of the water and I'm not seriously suggesting
this interpretation but it's something to think about. Pynchon is a little
young to have been around when Cherokee was a hit.

                                            P.

> The scene starts with:
> (62.20) Black faces, [then] white tablecloths, gleaming _very sharp knives_
> [then...] yowzah/sho nuf [then...] White college boys [then...] Two [black]
> bartenders [in front if a mirror that swallows the light in the room]
> [then...] Slothrop can't even see his own white face [then...] A woman turns
> to look at him from a table [for the first time, no color stated.  Why?]
>
> It's interesting to see the sequence above Black, White, Black, White.
>
> Also, does it actually say "white mens' room" in the text?
>
> David Morris