“You got big hopes child, but they gonna leave me alone, by myself”
This reminds us that parents or grandparents have a hard time letting someone they are really close to leave them to go follow their dreams. The short story “Building Bridges” by Andrea Pinkney is about a teenage girl named Bebe and her grandmother Mama Lil. In the story, Bebe really wants to be an engineer. Andrea Pinkney portrays in the story that Mama Lil is reluctant to let Bebe go follow her dreams as an engineer. Through the story the author wants the reader to know that Bebe and Mama Lil’s relationship is complex and yet kind of like our relationships with our parents and grandparents too.
In the story Mama Lil can’t seem to let Bebe go.
First, Mama Lil just hated the idea and the answer was simply NO. In the beginning of the story Mama Lil was doesn't want to let Bebe go. For example as Mama Lil was sitting down smoking her cigarette she said “Ain’t no black woman doing no engin-ing” page 21 . The reader infers that this shows that Mama Lil doesn’t accept Bebe’s dream of engineering doing and doesn’t really seem to care. The reader also comes across this idea of that Mama Lil is using her real life experiences to believe that race dictates the type of job you can and can not do. Also she doesn’t even care enough to say engineering correctly. Another example is in this quote where Bebe is trying to talk Mama Lil into letting her do the Brooklyn Bridge project Bebe says, “Mama Lil, your eyes are always closed, closed to seeing me” page 28. At this part the reader thinks Mama Lil won’t pay attention or cooperate with Bebe. The reader then assumes that this is because she doesn’t want to sign the papers because she doesn’t want to let Bebe go. This also shows the reader that Mama Lil doesn’t want Bebe to leave her so therefore she wont truly look at Bebe and doesn’t even try to understand Bebe’s hopes and dreams. Another example of this is that while Bebe was describing the kind of relationship they have and what they say about/to each other she says “She [Mama Lil] thought I weighted too much, and dressed badly.” page 18. This shows the reader that Mama Lil isn’t afraid to tell Bebe how she feels. This can be good and bad, it means they have a good, trusting relationships, or that they are kind of mean to each other. But, when they are mean to each other it can cause feelings to get hurt, it really depends on what they say and how they say it. Something like this might have happened to many people with their families and/or friends. But if they are so close that they can say these things to each other then the reader becomes a bit confused when in the middle of this story Mama Lil has trouble telling Bebe how she truly feels about this Bridge project…
In the end of the story Mama Lil opened her eyes and realized what was best for Bebe and she let her go live out her dream. Everyone knows “If you love something let them go, and if they love you to, they will come back.” At the end of the story when Mama Lil finally approves Bebe’s dream she says to Bebe “ Bebe, the bridge is lucky to have you.” page 34. This quote shows that Mama Lil really does care and love Bebe and even though she doesn’t want to let Bebe go, she still respects her decision and loves her. Another thing is that when Mama Lil is explaining to Bebe why she doesn’t want Bebe to go work on the bridge project she says, “ [Bebe] Your dreams are the kind that’ll take you away from here” page 29. This shows that the only reason why she didn’t want to let Bebe go is that she didn’t want Bebe to leave her all alone with nobody. Mama Lil then says, “what little bit of dreaming I got left… I’m putting to you.” page 29. Mama Lil loves Bebe and she wanted her to be the best she can be. Something that Mama Lil knew she didn’t do. Mama Lil shows her true colors here. Mama Lil loves Bebe and always will. She never wants to let her go but she realized that the best thing to do for Bebe is let her shine and be the best that she can be. So therefore Mama Lil gave in and said yes to let Bebe follow her dreams.
Throughout the story Mama Lil changed her whole demeanor. She went from being reluctant to let Bebe leave her to realizing allowing Bebe to follow her dreams was best. Mama Lil started out not being truthful or honest with Bebe or how she truly felt about this project. She is telling her that she wouldn’t sign the permission slip because she was a black woman. She even says to Bebe “ If God had made you to do a man’s work he would’ve made you a man” page 20. She starts to come up with any possible excuse to stop Bebe from doing this. As we read through the story we see a change in Mama Lil. This is that she starts being more truthful with Bebe and tells her why she really didn’t want her to do the project. She didn’t want to be alone. Mama Lil says to Bebe “ Your dreams are the kind that’ll take you away from here.” page 29. The thought of losing Bebe was the only reason she didn’t want to sign the form. Bebe is determined to do this job. “Mama Lil I got to find my own way” page 29. Even though Mama Lil doesn’t want Bebe to leave her it doesn’t get in Bebe’s way of doing her dream- this is important.
In the end the reader sees that relationships can be hard and complicated. We see this through the way Mama Lil starts out reluctant to letting Bebe go. Or this even shows in her decision to let Bebe go to follow her dreams. It can be hard to let go of someone you’re so close to. I can relate to this. I have Family in Ireland. I only see the two weeks every two years. So when I see them but then I have to go back to America it’s hard for me. I just can’t let them go. This can help me understand how Mama Lil is feeling. Andrea Pinkney shows this very well in the way she created Mama Lil as a person. Through the story the author wants the reader to know that Bebe and Mama Lil’s relationship is complex and yet kind of like our relationships with our parents and grandparents too. In the story Mama Lil can’t seem to let Bebe go. I think that Bebe and Mama Lil will make this work and always have each other no matter what. Sometimes we feel resistant to letting go of someone you care for so much but when you love someone you have to let them go.
