Synopsis
José is a young boy who lives with his grandmother, Ma Tine, in Rivière Salée, Martinique, in the 1930's. He is a good-natured child although, still a child, he gets into his fair share of trouble. One day, he and the other children of his neighborhood sneak some rum and, in an innocent's first encounter with this mind-altering substance, they inadvertently destroy a mean neighbor's little farm and property. As punishment, all the children are put to work in the sugarcane field that employs the adults. All the children except José, that is. Ma Tine is determined to keep José out of the cane fields and in a classroom. He is very bright, and soon earns a scholarship to study in Fort-de-France, the city across the river. Unfortunately, his scholarship turned out to be only a quarter-scholarship, and Ma Tine can't afford to send him. Not one to be defeated, Ma moves from her country home to the ungracious city to save commuting costs. She becomes a laundress to make ends meet, yet still barely manages. Although José ends up earning a full scholarship, the toll was so tough on Ma that, on a solo trip back to Rivière Salée to buy José a new suit, she falls ill, and dies. José goes back to Fort-de-France to study, as he knows Ma would want, but he never forgets his Black Shack/Sugar Cane Alley.20
Country Information
France colonized Martinique in 1635; the name of its capital, Fort-de-France, declares that ownership. Martinique is a Caribbean island, part of what is referred to as the French West Indies. Be sure to teach and clarify the different terms associated with the region. Martinique is one of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which, along with the Greater Antilles (including Puerto Rico) comprise the West Indies or Caribbean Islands.21 Each student could be assigned an island and find out what language is spoken there; the class could then compile a comprehensive map of languages spoken throughout the area.
In the film sugar was a precious commodity in the village, while rum seemed less scarce, as seen in both the night scene where adults are dancing around the fire with rum, as well as the scene where the little girl Ondine is allowed to buy rum for her father. Although sugarcane is still a main crop, it is now used almost exclusively for the production of rum.22 If possible, bring in stalks of sugar cane to show students where their table sugar comes from.
Bananas have become a main export of Martinique. The "Martinique Banana" web site is a great resource for language practice
and
cultural knowledge, since the site exists in both French and English. During a day in the media center, students could explore the site, trying to translate the French into English, checking their work against the English site. More advanced students could do the reverse, translating English into French.23
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Tourism has now surpassed agriculture as primary source of economic growth. As a class, look at tourist brochures and compare them to what is shown in the film. Discuss the pros and cons of tourism and the concept of responsible tourism.24
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Most of the island's meat, vegetable, and grain products are imported, which results in a yearly increase in the national deficit and continued need for financial aid from France. Class can address the cycle that ensues when you need to rely on others for basic needs.
Topics and Possibilities
Call and Response Storytelling
is shown when old man Medouze, the storyteller, says "Hé cric?" and José, the audience, responds "Hé crac!" The storyteller can add variations, like
Hé misticric,
and the audience must match it.25 Students can create their own cric/crac combo and practice call and response storytelling in English, then French.
In telling stories of Martinique's past to José, Medouze introduces the concept of slavery to an employer as opposed to an owner. Students should discuss this and develop opinions on it, including the role of education as it relates to this other slavery.
Introduce students to the filmmaker Euzhan Palcy. There are several periodical articles about her that can be used to showcase her as a strong female role model.26
See also
Lesson 3 - Art & Poetry
.
