Current Forum: Session 4: Ideology and Race	Read 7 times 	
Date: 06-Feb-2001 00:00:02	
Author: DAVIS, SHERYL Y. <syd8438@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>	
Subject: Reality in Imitation of Life 	
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       In Imitation of Life, the ideological construct of race occurs as a result of a mulatto, Sarah Jane, struggles to find her place in society. The article, "Racial Formation" by Michael Omi and Howard Winant states that an alternative approach is to think of racial formation processes as occurring through a link-age between structure and representation" (80). Fully cognizant of the manner by which society treated blacks, Annie attempts to instill in her daughter the necessary morals and values regarding truth and love for oneself to help adequately prepare Sarah Jane for a life wherein "she was born to be hurt."
       An example of this early on in the film is manifested through a close-up of the Sarah Jane and Susie playing with a white doll and a black doll. The long shot of the black doll on the floor
after Sarah Jane refuses Susie's offer of ownership reveals the trauma of racial identity and social acceptance that Sarah Jane experiences at an early age. Another scene that evokes extreme emotion is centered around the long shot that leads us into the public school where we see a close-up of a textbook that physically hides Sarah Jane's face and emotionally stresses Annie, in her effort to unexpectedly visit the school to bring raingear for Sarah Jane out of genuine love and concern. Despite, Annie's numerous attempts to make Sarah Jane love herself, Sarah Jane chooses to "pass" for white. 
       Regardless of Lora and Steve's acts of kindness throughout the narrative toward Annie, race and power are most dominant. Even though Lora verbally expresses her love and appreciation for Annie, and both Annie and Sarah Jane are provided a place to live, there is still a double-standard displayed which relates directly to Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." We see this when Annie is devastated over her daughter's notion to denounce Annie as her mother. When Annie expresses her feeling to Lora and identifies her situation with Sarah Jane as a problem, Lora responds, "That's different! This is a "real" problem.” Lora refers to her troubles with her daughter, Susie as a "true" problem and downplays Annie's hurt. Hurt is hurt! It has no color. In another instance, Steve volunteers to make travel arrangements for Annie and suggests that she take the train--a second-class means of transportation. Annie says, "I'm no going by plane, I'm gonna fly! I'm in a hurry." Was it natural instinct for "nice, polite" Steve to offer Annie the second hand mode of transportation? Also, Lora is upset when she learns that her daughter does not confide in her about her [Susie's] feeling for Steve and reveals them to Annie. But Lora does not hesitate to volunteer to take Annie's place to bring Sarah Jane back home--which Annie felt compelled to do as Sarah Jane's mother. I am not denying that Lora was not a friend and nice to Annie, but I do have reservation about how it seemed natural for her to react and treat Annie in certain instances.