”Society’s child – My autobiography” – Is a book written in 2009 by Janis Ian, an American folksinger and songwriter, who, being 13 years old, sold a single that ignited rebellious behavior all over America. The reason for this was the racial problems it addressed in the lyrics of the song.
The first thing you see in this text is the fact that the story is Janis Ian tells us in this book, is in fact a retro perspective on her life. This assertion is strengthened by the fact that she uses past tense in the entirety of the story. She takes us through the story with a first person perspective and makes the reader understand those emotions she gets through the story better. This can for example be seen in lines 34 and 62:
“I felt like crying, but you can’t sing and cry at the same time so I tried to keep on going.” ,
“I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. What was wrong with these people? It was just a song, not a combat invitation!”
These identifications make a strong bond between writer and reader, and through pathos used in a plethora of ways throughout the text, the reader is strongly affected by how the hardships Janis Ian has to go through.
Another good point to bring up is the fact that she wrote her songs at a time where the black/white tension was at a breaking point. The song was written in 1964, which was just one year before the equal rights demonstrations – with Martin Luther King as the spearhead in this movement – began marching in the cities of America and where the very famous speech by Martin Luther King himself were held, demanding equality, regardless of skin color. Taking this into consideration; the fact that Janis Ian at the age of 13 brings this – at the time – volatile subject up must have incited uproar in every part of America. Then again you could argue that this also carries a very potent message with it. A 13 year old girl singing about an issue that is a taboo in most of the country that manages to get this much attention does in fact have a great value to it. These rights are very key to how the American society works right now. But this autobiography just sheds some light on the fact that these rights didn’t just come without a fight. No, as a matter of fact the sacrifices made to make these come true is mind-boggling to think about.
Going back to the story, Janis Ian tells us indirectly about her transition from being this little girl that is ignorant about the fact that her song carries this very important message to one that is able to stand up to the fact that she can, as a matter of fact, make a big difference right here, right now. This transition makes the story take a big turn. The scene in question is the bathroom scene. Her promoter says the following in line 255:
“You’ve got to go back Janis. You’ve got to, because if you don’t, they’ll win.”

This is the turning point. She has all these heroes that she doesn’t want to disappoint. Her family, her idols, her fans. She realizes that the one thing she doesn’t want to be is a coward and turn her back on these people. This makes her go back in there and complete her performance. This is very interesting, especially considering the fact that she didn’t expect the song to be a big hit, as she says that she only wrote this song ´to clear out my system´. Now suddenly she has to stand up this great responsibility of being, in essence, an equal rights activist. Looking at this with children eye’s must be a very scary thing indeed, but because she grows with the task she is able to look the issue in the eye and show everyone that she is strong.
There’s also the very distinctive words “Nigger lover” that keeps coming back, and is something you remember after you’ve read the story. These words are interesting in the sense that she explains to the reader that she is, in fact, neither a “nigger lover” nor a “white lover”. She is trying to be the bridge between both, unknowingly at first but deliberately after her “transformation” into being a grown-up.
For the theme of the book, I’d say that it is all about making people stand up to what they believe in. This statement is all the stronger because of the age of Janis Ian at the point of this experience, and of course the time and situation she is in. Furthermore this book also gives a great insight in how the time of the equal rights movements was to those that tried hard to make equality come true. Coming as a first-hand story from one experiencing being in the eye of the storm, and especially with the naivety of a child taken into account, it makes the story all the more immersive and surprising when she chooses not to run away, but to hold her ground , and go back to the stage stronger than ever.