Black Shack Alley Sparknotes

Black Shack Alley Education, by definition, is the process of receiving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. In Joseph Zobel’s, Black Shack Alley, we come across many different forms of education. José, the protagonist, moves from the plantation town, Petit-Bourg, to a more urbanized town, Fort-de-France. His home town, Petit-Bourg has a sugar cane plantation where his grandmother, Mman Tine, works. She doesn’t want him to end up in the petites-bandes, the group of children who work in the field, so she works very hard to give José opportunities so he can have a better life. José is motivated by Mman Tine’s efforts to provide for him and works very hard in school. His hard work pays of when he gets the opportunity

The more developed teaching methods there match the town’s urban society. The education is more formal and way more expensive. “One had to be fully and properly dressed, and speak French there”(51). José is aware that he is the only child who grew up on a plantation, “I was the only one of my kind”(128). All around him in school were kids who grew up in wealthy families. The children can afford to have lunch every day and have extravagant items José could only dream of having. “[. . .]Carrying leather schoolbags, pens with golden rings, and watches!”(128). The wealthy society of this town differed greatly from the poverty of José’s Black Shack Alley. Because the families were so wealthy in this area, schooling was not a privilege as it was in Petit-Bourg, so teachers did not encourage the students to do their best. “In Petit-Bourg the school masters saw to it that you learned your lessons and did your homework. [. . .]in this lycée, you did as little as you wanted”(129). The teachers in the lycée didn’t have a connection with José like Mr. Roc did. One of his teachers even said José was a “student of little interest”(129). José was isolated in the prestigious school of Fort-de-France, but thrived in his familiar environment in

In his poverty, José learns basic education, but also about the society he lives in. His school in Petit-Bourg is with other kids who have the same lifestyle as he does. José receives his elementary education in Petit-Bourg. His path of education starts at this school and José thrives and forms a good relationship with his teacher, Mr. Roc. “Mr. Roc told me all of that without betraying any emotion[. . .]which I could sense a feeling of anticipated joy”(119). Mr. Roc sees José’s potential and works with him so he can pass the Scholarship Examination and go to