Consciousness Quote by Jesmyn Ward
“I would encounter W. E. B. Du Bois and the term double consciousness. When I read it, I thought about sitting in my mother's employer's family room, watching my mother clean while I waited for her to finish so we could go home.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Sing, Unburied, Sing, 2017
She connects Du Bois’s concept of double consciousness to her own childhood memory of observing her mother’s labor, highlighting layered identity and social hierarchy.
In simple terms: Seeing oneself through others’ eyes reveals hidden social layers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge hidden biases.
Themes
identity
race
class
memory
Mood
thoughtful
empathetic
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- family dinner
- academic study
- community dialogue
Key Concepts
sociology
literature
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does double consciousness affect personal relationships?
- In what ways can we make invisible labor visible?
