BibliographyTaylor, Mildred D. 1986. The Land. ISBN 0-8037-1950-7
Plot Summary
In Mildred Taylor's book, The Land, the reader learns about the life of Paul Edward Logan. Paul Edward is a mixed race child of a Black and Native American slave woman and a White landowner. Set during Reconstruction, this story occurs amid widespread racial disparity. Paul really doesn't know how to identify himself and he struggles with this throughout his life. He is called a white man's "colored son" and blacks accuse him of "thinking that he is better than they are." Despite this personal conflict, Paul Edward is somewhat comforted because he is taken in by his white father and half brother Robert. Paul's father teaches him to read and makes certain that he knows a trade which will help him to someday be a landowner. He is closer to his father than he is to Robert because, when it suits him, Robert shows prejudice toward Paul. His father does too, especially when company is over or when in front of other whites, but to the elder it's not blatant mistreatment because other blacks are treated far worse than Paul is. Another important character in the book is Mitchell, who becomes Paul's friend although the bond wasn't immediate. Mitchell bullys Paul relentlessly about his white appearance, but the boys eventually form a friendship that carried them from childhood to adulthood. Even though their start was rocky, Paul and Mitchell grew to depend on each other in order to survive. Moreover, it is Paul's experience as being apart of a mixed heritage that helped him to survive the brutal times of racism and the loss of his dear friend Mitchell. Paul endured many hard times and disappointments along the way, but he beat the odds for blacks during his time and became a
landowner.
Critical Analysis
The Land starts off very slowly, but Paul's narration of his life soon picks up the pace. By the book starting slowly, perhpas the author intends for the reader to get a good feel of the way of life for Blacks after the Civil War. Taylor's use of dialect and Paul's passiveness to racial prejudices are 2 excellent examples of how things were during this time. For the most part, Paul accepts life as it is and rarely puts up a fight even when he is bullied by Mitchell in the beginning of the story. Paul said "I was reading beside a creek on my daddy's land, and Mitchell came up from behind and just whopped me on the head. For no reason...What ya do that for?" Mitchell' simple rejoinder was " Felt like it...Ya wanna do somethin' bout it?" The protagonist Paul Edward is faced with inner struggles and his determination to overcome racial biases and to someday own his own land are the main conflicts in the story. Although he was treated better than most Blacks, Paul's father constantly reminded him that other Whites didn't care who he was or who he belonged to, and that owning land would not be easy for a Black man. It was a long journey for Paul Edward to get to the point where he would be able to buy 200 acres of land. Before this was possible, he had to lose his best friend Mitchell, who was killed by a White man, and he had to be reacqainted with his half brother Robert. Robert is the one who brought him the remaining money he needed to make the land purchase, something he would not have been able to do since Mitchell died. It was ironic that the money didn't come from Paul Edward's White family, but from his Black family who he became estranged from growing up. In this situation, the author describes how many times the one's we try to stay away from are the ones we have to eventually go back to for help.
Stlye
Many of Taylor's books are reminiscent of how life was in the South. Since many of her books are about racism, many people feel that she focuses too much of her literary worth on racial issues. She has been questioned about this and her choice of always using the "n" word in her books and Taylor, "staunchly stands by her stories and her choice of language. She simply affirms that the incidents she describes are based on fact and that the painful language she uses reflects a painful and shameful part of American history that should not be glossed over." This book isn't a good choice for anyone who is sensitive to the "n" word.
Other Literary Elements at a glance:
Symbol: Land- In this book, there is constant talk about owning land. To Paul, this symbolizes strength. He figures that if he becomes a landowner, he will be treated as an equal in society.
Motif: Loyalty- Even when mistreated, Paul remains loyal to those around him. For example, Paul takes Mitchell's punishment when he rode Ghost Wind. Furthermore, Mitchell shows his loyalty to Paul toward the end of the book when he helps to work land that Paul wants ownership of.
Review Excerpts
Coretta Scott King Award, 2002
William Allen White Children's Book Award, Nominated in 2004
Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly: "Taylor's gift for combining history and storytelling is as evident here as is in her other stories about the Logan family."
Starred Review in Voice of Youth Advocates: "Although this book will be a welcome addition to many middle and junior high school libraries, the fascinating, free-flowing tale will be received warmly by readers of all ages."
Connections
This book can be shared with children to help them better understand the Reconstruction era and to help them understand the Black experience of mixed raced children during this time.
*Gather another book about father/son relationships:
Curtis, Christopher P. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN 0553494104
*Gather other books by Mildred Taylor that discuss racial injustice:
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. ISBN 9780140384512
Mississippi Bridge. ISBN 9780553159929
*Critical Thinking exercises for students based on The Land:
1. Do you think land ownership is as important now as it was during Paul's time? Give details of why or why not.
2. Compare the settings of the plantation Paul lived on as a boy and the land that he later purchased in Mississippi.
3. What aspect(s) of the book would change if it wasn't set during Reconstruction in the South?
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