My Man Bovanne by Toni Cade Bambara - Summary

 Preface

When she writes "autobiographical fiction", Toni's family and friends get angry about the past or their characters, so she just sticks to plain fiction.

The Story

The narrator is at a benefit for a family member who is running for a political position with the black party. She is dancing with Bovanne a nice old man who is blind. He does handy work around the neighborhood. They dance close but it's not sexual. Joe Lee, her son, tells her off for dancing so close. Her daughter, Elo, too tells them off but she ignores her for the benefit of harmless, kind Bovanne.

Her youngest son Task pulls her into the kitchen. In her defense she mumbles something about drums. They berate her for dancing like "a bitch in heat" or "a sex-starved" woman. She is on the verge of tears. She asks whether this is the "generation gap", and Elo denies that this exists in Blacks. She feels as though she is being interrogated. They criticize her for drinking. They hate the wig she is wearing. They go on to criticize the way she dresses too young. Her children expect her to represent the elders of the community, but have not prepared her ahead of time.

She is hurt and indignant but barely manages to get in a word of defense. She is not as old as they say, she says. When she does speak it's to say "you know what you all can kiss". She is particularly hurt by Elo, who she felt particularly close to when Elo was growing up. She saw a lot of herself in Elo. Her children leave her alone in the kitchen.

Bovanne enters the kitchen. She leaves the benefit, taking him with her. She plans to take him home and give him a bath and a massage (and probably bonk him).

Toni Cade Bambara