Brown Girl in the Ring

The center is a recurring notion of in the novel that demonstrates marginalization as well as power. In the Prologue, the center is first introduced as Toronto’s city center, which has been abandoned by the government after the Riots, further impoverishing the area’s already poor residents. The more affluent residents fled the “rotten core” (3) for the suburbs as the city center continued to fall apart to crime and further poverty. Despite these economically debilitating circumstances, a whole community thrives in the city center to support one another. While there remains rampant crime and danger, there is also collective power that Ti-Jeanne witnesses after Mami’s death. Moved by Mami’s impact on their lives, the community members offer tokens of appreciation and support to Ti-Jeanne, demonstrating that marginalization is not removed from collective strength.

The center appears again when Ti-Jeanne astral projects over the CN Tower, readying herself to become Rudy’s duppy before the Jab-Jab’s intervention. Reminded of Mami’s words that “[t]he centre pole is the bridge between the worlds” (219), Ti-Jeanne uses the CN Tower as her center pole to summon the African spirits to her aid. The potency of the CN Tower as a conjuring rod challenges the notion of the center as a space far from saving. This is conveyed through Premier Uttley’s changed attitude towards the city center at the novel’s end. While the revitalization of the city center has not been part of her campaign promise, Mami’s heart forces her to recognize that “there are quite a few resourceful people left in Muddy York” (239). Thus, the center is characterized not only by its impoverishment but also its promise.