Daughters of the Dust

The film Daughters of the Dust produced and written by Julie Dash, tells the story of the Gulah Geechee people, who leave their land in search for a better future in the north. Julie Dash focuses on the stories and perspectives of the Peasant women and their different perspectives on modern civilization, and mobility. Identity formation in the shape of culture perseverance in Daughters of the Dust is shown in the generational changes in terms of colonization, an the indulgence of western culture. Nana Peazant symbolizes their native Guhlla Geechee culture, and the need to preserve her culture from western civilization. The Gullah Geechee people lived in Ibo land which was considered an independent community from the state. Carson writes that life after slaver for African Americans meant that many people had the desire for democratic self-governance (Carson, 127). Although Ibo land did not originally belong to the states, they maintained a strong perseverance for their land, and produced their now independent self-governed community, just as many African American attempted to do in the rest of the United States. On the other hand, her grand daughters, Yellow Mary and Viola represent generational change because they choose to leave their native land in search for a better future outside of their isolated community. Carson writes that in the process of black liberation movements, religion became a huge part of self identity (Carson, 126). In the film, Viola, the older daughter, is very religious character who truly is devoted to Christianity. Her religious beliefs conflict with her Gullah Geechee spiritual beliefs, forcing her to choose between identities. Also, Yellow Mary, the younger daughter, had left their Ibo land and worked as a wet nanny, caring for white families children. Since she had a lived experience out side of the Gullah Geechee community, she decided that she had a better connection and identification with withe modern culture, than her Geechee culture. This was common for many African American people during the years 1787-1816, which was life a new life after combating slavery. Religious leaders such as Richard Allen, motivated African Americans to become independent form white domination, but also suggested the form of racial integration and how black folks would fit into the dominant white society (Carson 126). Overall, the different dynamics in which the woman in the Peazant family choose to create or preserve their identities, is relying on cultural and physical expansion and the integration into white society. But also on choosing to preserve their cultural roots and identity that has helped their people be their own independent community, but also isolate them from white civilization.