Lilac represents the black woman that chooses to follow the guidelines of the patriarchy traditionally seen in the Black community. I payed extra attention to capture moments in which Lilac was voiceless, literally and figuratively. This can be seen in “Thirsty Uproots A Lilac” and “Healing God’s Bruises.” Madea was written after an archetype I noticed in the written Black tradition which is the old magical negro. African-American grandparents are often depicted as having ethereal powers attached to them; many related to blessings, protection, and wisdom. Although Madea was the matriarch of the family, much like her daughter, she is voiceless against men[Thirsty]. The only times Madea actually speaks up is through violence towards her granddaughter, as seen in “Madea During the Rapture.” Madea is a character with an internal conflict against herself and her family. What I really wanted to grasp in this character was the need to feel validated. This is kind of hinted at in “Madea During the Rapture” with the line: “standing on the corner/black van after black van/black man after black man”
One thing I wish I could have done with this collection is dedicate more poems to Madea’s life leading up to the current