After you my dear Alphonse

Everyone has prejudices. Prejudices about someone. Often prejudices arise from uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Racism is when the prejudices are turned against one specific race as colour, religion, national origin etc. When a bigger group of people share these racial prejudices, it can cause some serious trouble. Several times in the history, we have seen, that racism has been a well-integrated part of a country’s society. And then it has been difficult to change. This short story “After you my dear Alphonse” written by Shirley Jackson, projects the extreme prejudices of blacks, which were seen in America before the great speaches of Martin Luther King and Malcom X in the 60’s.

The racial prejudices of Mrs. Wilson’s is very obvious, no matter how much she is trying to hide them behind exaggerated politeness and generosity. As her son Johnny brings home his friend Boyd, who is an African American, her reception of him is clearly controlled by her prejudices of blacks. She questions his family and background with hesitation, as it was something he would be embarrassed about. When Johnny tells her, that Boyd’s father works at a factory, she assumes that he is a manual worker. Then she is told, that he is the foreman. She is wondering why Boyd’s mother does not work, but is rebuked by Boyd: “Why should she? You don’t work.” (p. 22). When the boys are offered stewed tomatoes, Johnny replies that Boyd does not eat stewed tomatoes. “Boyd will eat anything.” (p.21). Mrs. Wilson replies, with extreme condescension, to point out that his family is probably poor, and Boyd is grateful for anything he can get to eat. When Boyd doesn’t want any tomatoes Mrs. Wilson begins to realize, that his family is just as successful as her own. In a last try to proof to herself, that she is better than Boyd, she offers him second-hand clothing. Puzzled, but very politely Boyd explains to her that he has plenty of clothes, and that they will just buy anything he needs. “Mrs. Wilson lifted the plate of gingerbread off the table as Boyd was about to take another piece.” (p.23). These actions clearly reveal that she is not being gracious and charitable, but only petty, small-minded and racist.

Johnny, Mrs. Wilson’s son, does not share her views. Actually he does not even understand her allusions about Boyd and his family. Unlike his mother, he act totally naturally about Boyd, and treats him exactly like he would treat anyone else of his friends. Johnny is a good picture of how children are completely untainted by such biases as racism. And how they are unaffected by the small-minded views of the adult-world. They are just being good friends. For them, such things as the colour of their skin have absolutely no importance. Boyd does not understand the actual meaning with Mrs. Wilson’s comments either, or the racism hidden behind them. He is wondering about the strange questions of hers, but does not take it personally or connect it to the fact that he is black. Again a symbol of how children are unbiased.

And that is also what the title, and the use of the sentence “After you my dear Alphonse” indicates. This inside joke is a symbol of Boyd and Johnny’s strong friendship. And the use of it is showing us just how they are unaffected by Mrs. Wilson’s racist behaviour. They enter the house repeating the phrase for one another, and joking with each other. And even after the very uncomfortable scene at the dinner table, they again leave the house repeating the phrase. A very clear picture on how the boys are unmoved by Mrs. Wilson’s bigotry.

The short story shows the problematic about biases, in this case racism is the big theme. Mrs. Wilson clearly has some racial prejudices about Boyd, and does not hesitate taking them out on him, even though he is a child, and a friend of her son. Her prejudices about blacks being poor and unsuccessful are so strong, that it’s very difficult for her to handle, that Boyd’s family is as successful as her own. “Don’t think I am angry, Boyd. I’m just disappointed in you, that’s all.” (s. 24). Here we see that even when she knows his family is successful, she still can’t accept him. Now she is just disappointed, that he is not poor and that he didn’t live up to her expectations about her.
The story is written in 1949, and it clearly reveals that America doesn’t live up to their promise: “All men are created equal” and “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This is not about Mrs. Wilson, as one single person, is begin a racist. She represents the average American citizen. She is only a symbol of how integrated racism was in America, despite the Declaration of Independence. It’s obvious to see, how hard, almost unreal, it was at that time, to believe that a black family could have success. Also the story demonstrates how racism not only displays in violence and murder, but also in a peaceful way in the small communities and homes.