Lebert Joseph

Lebert Joseph serves as a catalyst to Avey’s growth and understanding of herself. He guides her to her roots through interesting tactics. He floods her with information of his geneology and with the connections that he has accumulated over many generations. He begins questioning her culture and roots, forcing her to try understanding her lineage--begining the idea of tracing back oneself to blood belonging. The encounter provides Avey with valuable life-changing questions and slowly allows Avey to vent from the pressures of her society that she has suppressed--racism and assimilation. When she begins talking of her dreams, Lebert Joseph is able to look into her soul, metaphorically, and transmit her culture back into her. By continously jarring up her memory and conscience state he finds her past and her link to Juba dancing. Because Lebert Joseph initiates a dialogue of history, Avey is able to free herself of the present and look into the past for expression, appreciation of herself and to release the horrid tension she succumbs to in the United States. The evolution of the woman, as we see in many different novels, need a strong and captivating presence that forces the woman out of their comfort zone and into a vulnerable, yet safe enviroment that compells them to re-evaluate themselves. Lebert does this for Avey, and, thus, changes her forever.

Juan Contreras