Brothers and Sisters by Bebe Moore Campbell
"Brothers and Sisters" by Bebe Moore Campbell is a poignant novel set against the backdrop of racial tension and social upheaval following the 1992 Rodney King incident in Los Angeles. The story delves into the lives of its characters, primarily focusing on Esther Jackson and Mallory Post, who navigate the complexities of race, gender, and class within the professional environment of Angel City National Bank. Esther, an African American woman, grapples with her identity and the challenges of being a token representation in her workplace, while Mallory, a white woman, seeks to understand Esther's frustrations and anger stemming from systemic discrimination.
As the narrative unfolds, themes of ethical dilemmas and personal growth emerge, particularly as characters face choices that impact their careers and relationships. The introduction of LaKeesha Jones, a single mother seeking stability, complicates Esther's decisions about hiring and opportunity, highlighting the intersectionality of their experiences. The novel ultimately portrays a journey towards justice and self-discovery, as Esther and LaKeesha unite to confront wrongdoing within their workplace.
Despite some criticism regarding character depth, the book has been praised for its engaging storytelling and insightful examination of societal issues, resonating with both African American and broader audiences. Campbell's work offers a critical lens on the dynamics of race and gender, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature.
Brothers and Sisters by Bebe Moore Campbell
First published: 1994
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: 1992
Locale: Los Angeles, California
Principal Characters:
Esther Jackson , an upwardly mobile, highly educated, African American bank managerMallory Post , a white loan officer involved in an affair with a married manHumphrey Boone , an African American bank manager who strives to overcome his ghetto originsLaKeesha Jones , a young, single, African American mother whose child was fathered by a gang memberPreston Sinclair , the president of the bank, who attempts to address racial discrimination
The Novel
In April, 1992, Rodney King, an African American, was arrested by Los Angeles police after a high-speed automobile chase. His severe beating at the hands of four policemen, captured on videotape by an amateur photographer, outraged the African American community. When the policemen were exonerated by an all-white jury, Los Angeles erupted in a series of civil disturbances during which fifty-three people were killed and over one billion dollars in property was destroyed. Bebe Moore Campbell’s novel Brothers and Sisters is set in the aftermath of these historical events.
The novel is a frank exploration of the complexities of race, gender, and social class, represented through the viewpoints of a large cast of characters. Esther Jackson and Mallory Post are professional employees of the downtown regional headquarters of the fictional Angel City National Bank. Esther, on the surface self-possessed and under control, seethes with inner rage at her treatment as a token African American woman. Mallory seeks Esther’s friendship but is puzzled by her seemingly incomprehensible anger. Esther, in turn, is blind to Mallory’s well-intentioned, if naïve, attitude. Each woman tries to understand the other, as they struggle with ethical issues raised by their jobs and the gender discrimination suffered by women of both races.
Mallory, blond and elegant, is a highly paid commercial loan officer. Esther, whose striking good looks attract much attention, is manager of the tellers. She applies for a higher-paying position as a loan officer, a job for which she is qualified, but is denied promotion by the white manager. The issues of race, class, and gender that dominate the story are precipitated when Kirk Madison, a white man who is the temporary manager, is replaced by Humphrey Boone, an African American man who has been brought in from the inner-city branch by bank president Preston Sinclair.
Into this explosive situation comes LaKeesha Jones, a single mother and the sole support of a chaotic household that includes her grandmother, her alcoholic mother, and two sisters on welfare with illegitimate children. Esther faces the tough decision of whether to hire as the new teller a qualified white man or to give LaKeesha, her African American “sister,” the opportunity to make a better life for herself. Esther hires LaKeesha, risking a potential threat to her own career. Esther’s life is further complicated by her desire to find a wealthy African American husband, but she is attracted to Tyrone Carter, a mail messenger, her social inferior.
Preston Sinclair, whose college-age son has been injured in an automobile accident, grooms Humphrey Boone as his replacement. Boone, despite his professional veneer, masks his ghetto origins and his family’s unreasonable demands for money. Invited to Sinclair’s home, he befriends Sinclair’s son and is seduced by the wealth and privilege of the country-club lifestyle.
Juggling this large cast of characters and a complex plot, Campbell creates suspense by revealing the characters’ thoughts to readers, who are given information unknown to the characters. Esther discovers that someone has been embezzling from dormant accounts but, fearing that LaKeesha may be responsible, does not immediately report the crime. A further complication is the mutual attraction between Mallory and Humphrey, whose ego is tempted by the fantasy of the trophy white woman. Humphrey acts precipitously when Mallory ends the relationship. Accused of sexual harassment, he is fired and replaced by Kirk Madison, who readers know is on the brink of a financial and mental breakdown. LaKeesha is blamed for the embezzlement, and both she and Esther, as her sponsor, are fired.
Esther, encouraged by the integrity and clear-sightedness of Tyrone, makes the decision that brings about justice. She and LaKeesha, who knows that Madison is the embezzler, summon the courage to take their evidence to Sinclair, fearing that as African American women they will not be believed. Sinclair, however, does believe them and restores both women to their positions. Madison is arrested and sent to jail. Mallory extricates herself from her love affair and disavows her accusation of Boone. Boone becomes the chief executive of an inner-city bank, where he can support the aspirations of African Americans who have been refused loans by the white establishment.
The Characters
In exploring the fraught issues of race, gender, and social class, the author propels her main characters from their initial weaknesses to more mature actions that promise a hopeful future. Esther Jackson, abandoning her search for a wealthy African American man, realizes that Tyrone Carter, with his kindness and integrity, is worthy of her attention. Mallory Post develops the self-respect to reject her abusive lover. She and Esther are open to the possibility of a genuine, if precarious, friendship. Humphrey Boone decides that he does not belong in the world of the white male establishment and dedicates himself to helping African Americans achieve their financial goals. LaKeesha is poised to overcome her attraction to her criminal lover and, because she is a competent worker, will succeed in making a home for her family. Preston Sinclair acknowledges the bank’s record of discrimination and brings about a just solution.
Critical Context
The novel was an immediate popular success, becoming a best seller shortly after its publication. It was soon reprinted in paperback. Readers, however, have been more enthusiastic about Campbell’s work than have critics. Some fault the author for her two-dimensional characterizations, which sacrifice complexity in the service of plot and themes. However, reassessments of Campbell’s work after her untimely death at the age of fifty-six evaluated her as a compelling storyteller who reached both African American and white readers with her insights into racism and gender conflicts. As one writer in The Washington Post said, “Her writing is clean and clear; her emotions run hot, but her most important characteristic is uncompromising intelligence with a perfectionist’s eye for detail.”
Bibliography
Brown, Deneen L. “A Book that Binds: Novel Project Fosters Racial Understanding.” The Washington Post, November 13, 1997, p. A.01. Discusses Mary Brown, an African American English professor at Prince Georges Community College who has generated a successful series of interracial seminars in the community, using Brothers and Sisters as a springboard for discussion.
Chambers, Veronica. “Which Counts More, Gender or Race?” TheNew York Times Magazine, December 25, 1994, p. 16-19. In this author interview, Campbell says that she wants to explore interracial friendships in her fiction and that African American women are more oppressed by color than by gender.
Fox, Margalit. “Bebe Moore Campbell, Novelist of Black Lives, Dies at 56.” The New York Times, November 28, 2006. Summary of Campbell’s writing career that notes that, although critics found her characters to be two-dimensional, she was successful in reaching both African American and white readers.
Gleick, Elizabeth. Review of Brothers and Sisters, by Bebe Moore Campbell. The New York Times Book Review, October 16, 1994, p. 18. Argues that Campbell’s attempt to reveal the complexities of racial issues achieves mixed success and lacks subtlety.
Lamb, Yvonne Shinhoster. “Bebe Moore Campbell: Writer Explored Race, Mental Health Themes.” The Washington Post, November 28, 2006, p. BO6. Credits Campbell with “keen insight into the human condition.”
Winter, Karl J. “Brothers and Sisters.” African American Review 31, no.2(Summer, 1997): 369-371. Aruges that Campbell attempts to avoid clichés in Brothers and Sisters, but creates shallow characters who are not always convincing and depends upon stereotypes of physical appearance.