Perfect Peace

Daniel Black

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-8

Chapters 9-16

Chapters 17-24

Chapters 25-31

Chapters 32-37

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Background

Socio-Historical Context: Social Dynamics of African American Families in the 20th-Century South

Content Warning: This section discusses racism, enslavement, and anti-gay bias and discrimination.

The various dynamics and relationships between family members of African American families in the South during the 20th century were highly complex and were influenced by a large number of factors. Racial discrimination, the legacy of enslavement, socioeconomic challenges, and cultural traditions all influenced how members within African American families interacted with each other on a daily basis. These obstacles tested relationships and caused a great amount of tension within society as a whole. However, African American families in the South continued to persevere, displaying their resilience, strength, and deep sense of community.

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The South’s legacy of enslavement deeply impacted the structure of African American families. Many families were torn apart and forcibly separated as various members were enslaved and sold to different plantations. As a result, many African American families had difficulty maintaining stable and conventional family structures; this disruption and forceful separation of family members has had long-term effects on the African American community, and the results of this generational trauma are still deeply felt today.

During the early 20th century, the highly discriminatory Jim Crow laws—as well as many other forms of institutional and systemic racism—limited the resources and opportunities for African Americans throughout the South. This kind of racial discrimination made it impossible for families to provide for themselves and prevented them from accessing any upward social mobility. In the face of this institutional and systemic racism, African American families in the South often relied on an extended network of family members and strong community ties to overcome—or, at the very least, endure—systemic racism and adversity. The now-defunct Jim Crow laws made it almost impossible for such families to find jobs that paid livable wages; many African American families in the South lived in poverty and faced limited access to education, employment, and healthcare. Economic instability could put strain on relationships within a family, making it difficult for parents to provide for their children. In Perfect Peace, many aspects of these hardships become apparent in the complex social dynamics in which the protagonist is raised.

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Despite these systemic obstacles, African American families in the South during the 20th century demonstrated strength and resilience through perseverance and community. Cultural traditions—like music, food, shared heritage, and religious practices—helped to maintain a sense of identity and connection. These connections built the foundation for the next generation’s understanding of what it means to be a member of a family (“Systemic Inequality: Displacement, Exclusion, and Segregation.” Center for American Progress, 7 Aug. 2019).

Cultural Context: Challenges Faced by the LGBTQ+ Community in the 20th Century

The LGBTQ+ community is a large and diverse community of people who do not identify as heterosexual and/or cisgender (a person who identifies with the sex that they were assigned at birth). Throughout the 20th century, the LGBTQ+ community faced many challenges as they sought recognition within a society that often discriminated against them. From discrimination and violence to a widespread lack of legal protection or a supportive medical system, the LGBTQ+ community faced vast and varied challenges during the mid-20th century.

Societal discrimination created a widespread stigma against the LGBTQ+ community during the 20th century, the consequences of which are still largely felt today. Sexual and romantic relationships between members of the same sex were viewed as unacceptable by many people within American society, leading to discrimination in employment, housing, and public health. LGBTQ+ individuals faced harassment and violence simply for being who they were. In many countries, such relationships were criminalized and were even considered to be grounds for execution, and transgender individuals were similarly threatened. Today, although discrimination and social issues still abound, the LGBTQ+ community is more widely accepted in the United States, but it remains criminalized and stigmatized in many countries. Legal protections in the 20th century were almost non-existent for LGBTQ+ individuals, and marriage equality was not legally recognized until 2015 in the United States. This discrepancy in legal recognition left LGBTQ+ couples vulnerable to discrimination and legal challenges. LGBTQ+ couples also faced challenges in accessing gender-affirming healthcare, adopting children, accessing legal protections against wrongful termination, and receiving legal recognition of their gender identities.

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Additionally, violence and hate crimes during the 20th century made it almost impossible for LGBTQ+ people to publicly express their gender identity and sexuality. The Stonewall Riots in 1969—a protest in response to police raids on locations of community for LGBTQ+ people—highlighted the ongoing violence and discrimination that this community regularly faced. In the decades following the Stonewall Riots, the LGBTQ+ community continued to face violence and discrimination, leading to calls for the legal protection of LGBTQ+ rights. It wasn’t until 2015 that the Supreme Court recognized marriage equality as a constitutional right in the landmark decision Hodges v. Obergefell. In the face of adversity, the LGBTQ+ community in the mid-20th century overcame countless obstacles and made significant advancements in gaining equal rights and recognition through their advocacy and determination (Roth, Kenneth. “LGBT: Moving Towards Equality.” Human Rights Watch, 23 Jan. 2015). While the events of the novel primarily deal with the protagonist’s struggles with gender identity and belonging, this broader historical backdrop is implicit in many of the issues raised throughout the progression of the novel.