Wanda Coleman’s short story “Summer” is a story about family, childhood, and the things we learn as we grow up. It follows two cousins, the narrator and Buzz, who have always had a close bond. They spend their summers playing, teasing, and challenging each other. But one overheard conversation changes everything, forcing them to face a painful reality about race and colorism.
Coleman’s writing style is very poetic, but yet so natural. She captures the feeling of summer perfectly, making the reader get a warm feeling in their stomach, and the carefree nature of childhood. The way she uses language, especially the African American language, makes the story feel very real. An example of her poetic style is the opening line: “Day shimmers aglow with our laughter.” Page 212, Line 1. This gives a beautiful, almost dreamy feeling to the story, but it also connects with the painful moment that follows.
The relationship between the narrator and Buzz is playful and competitive. Buzz always manages to outsmart the narrator, even though she sees herself as the smarter one. But this summer, Buzz seems different. He has a sadness to him, something the narrator doesn’t quite understand. Then, during a game of hide and seek, they overhear a conversation between their mothers that changes everything. Buzz’s mother says:
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