Raymond’s Run

by

Toni Cade Bambara

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Reputation, Respect, and Identity Theme Analysis

Themes and Colors
Caretaking Theme Icon
Reputation, Respect, and Identity Theme Icon
Gender Roles and Female Solidarity Theme Icon
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Reputation, Respect, and Identity Theme Icon

Squeaky is an independent, headstrong girl who’s at odds with a society that values strict adherence to social norms. While her parents and teachers expect her to be docile and feminine, Squeaky insists on being herself: she won’t wear dresses, she has rituals that seem odd to others (like constantly practicing running and performing breathing exercises in public), and she spends all her time with her disabled brother, Raymond, whose appearance and behavior expose both him and Squeaky to ridicule. To defend Raymond and to garner the respect of others, Squeaky adopts a mean and tough reputation, someone willing to trade insults or brawl when challenged. She presents herself as formidable and willing to fight, but for all her tough talk, readers never actually see her engage in violence in the story. From Squeaky’s narration and actions toward others, it’s clear that she’s actually a thoughtful, sensitive young girl—far from the abrasive persona she projects to the world. Through Squeaky’s inner thoughts and her change of heart at the end of the story, Bambara makes the case that often, seemingly tough individuals are putting on a false persona to protect themselves and win others’ admiration—and that such people are better off being honest about their true selves if they want to earn people’s sincere respect.

Squeaky postures as tough in order to protect herself and Raymond. From the start, readers get the sense that Squeaky is compensating for the fact that she’s a self-described “little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice.” Others seem to view her the same way, given that these qualities are what led to her nickname.  Because of Squeaky’s size and voice and Raymond’s disability (he’s “not quite right” mentally), the siblings are at risk of being ridiculed, and so Squeaky is quick to boast that she’s “the quickest thing on two feet” and that she’s not afraid to “knock you down right from the jump” if anyone tries to harass her or Raymond. Squeaky’s eagerness to fight is, at least partially, a reaction to the neighborhood bullies who torment Raymond and the trio of girls—Gretchen, Mary Louise, and Rosie—who are rude to Squeaky. In this way, her tough persona seems to be a defense mechanism, a way of protecting herself and Raymond and of earning respect from others.

But as the story progresses, it becomes evident that the reputation Squeaky tries to project stems out of a general feeling of being unaccepted. It’s gradually revealed that people misunderstand and mistreat Squeaky because they disapprove of her behavior: her mother is embarrassed when Squeaky does her exercises in public, both her parents seemingly ignore her because they’re disappointed that she’s not feminine enough, and her classmates taunt her because they’re jealous of her talent as a runner. Squeaky’s teacher Mr. Pearson even suggests that Squeaky should purposely lose the annual May Day race in order to give the other girls a chance. The story also alludes to the fact that Squeaky used to live in “the country” surrounded by nature, and that she hates “the concrete jungle” of Harlem where she now lives. Readers can infer, then, that Squeaky’s toughness is really a front for her fears and feelings of dissatisfaction and alienation. Her persona is defensive rather than offensive—she projects bravado and aggression because she feels the need to shield herself against other people’s disapproval. Squeaky is adamant that she only wants to be herself: “a poor Black girl” who is wholeheartedly dedicated to running rather than more traditionally feminine activities like dancing. Thus, the expectations and pressure to conform that others place on Squeaky drive her to close herself off and adopt a façade of toughness to protect the identity and passions that she holds dear.

Ultimately, though, Squeaky realizes that she doesn’t have to be tough and antagonistic to protect Raymond or to have an identity of her own. The reader can infer that she’s actually somewhat timid—after all, Squeaky never actually fights anyone in the story. She even considers ducking into a nearby store when she sees Gretchen and her sidekicks approaching rather than facing them directly, a reaction that contradicts Squeaky’s fearless persona. And in the end, Squeaky, too, seems to realize that the false reputation she tries to convey isn’t helpful to her or to Raymond. During the 50-yard dash at the May Day celebration, Squeaky is awestruck when she sees Raymond running on the other side of the fence, gracefully keeping pace with her. This inspires Squeaky’s sudden desire to quit running altogether and to coach Raymond instead—she seems to understand that helping Raymond embrace his talent will be more productive for both of them than trying to intimidate bullies or garner bragging rights through winning races. After the race results are announced, Squeaky even smiles at Gretchen (who narrowly placed second)—and Gretchen briefly smiles back. The girls were bitter enemies up until this point, but both seem to genuinely respect and admire each other in this moment. Through this simple but significant gesture, it’s clear that Squeaky has come to realize that living in fear of others’ opinions of her and intimidating people into respecting her is a hollow pursuit. Rather, genuine respect and a true sense of identity are found when one shows others respect, celebrates other people’s triumphs, and pursues one’s own passions honestly and unabashedly—just like Raymond does.

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Reputation, Respect, and Identity Quotes in Raymond’s Run

Below you will find the important quotes in Raymond’s Run related to the theme of Reputation, Respect, and Identity.
Raymond’s Run Quotes

Sometimes I slip and say my little brother Raymond. But as any fool can see he’s much bigger and he’s older too. But a lot of people call him my little brother cause he needs looking after cause he’s not quite right. And a lot of smart mouths got lots to say about that too, especially when George was minding him. But now, if anybody has anything to say to Raymond, anything to say about his big head, they have to come by me. And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I am a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky. And if things get too rough, I run. And as anybody can tell you, I’m the fastest thing on two feet.

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Raymond, Squeaky’s Mother, Squeaky’s Father, George
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:

The big kids call me Mercury cause I’m the swiftest thing in the neighborhood. Everybody knows that—except two people who know better, my father and me. He can beat me to Amsterdam Avenue with me having a two fire-hydrant headstart and him running with his hands in his pockets and whistling. But that’s private information. Cause can you imagine some thirty-five-year-old man stuffing himself into PAL shorts to race little kids? So as far as everyone’s concerned, I’m the fastest and that goes for Gretchen, too, who has put out the tale that she is going to win the first-place medal this year. Ridiculous. In the second place, she’s got short legs. In the third place, she’s got freckles. In the first place, no one can beat me and that’s all there is to it.

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Raymond, Gretchen, Squeaky’s Father
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:

[…] I’ve got Raymond walking on the inside close to the buildings, cause he’s subject to fits of fantasy and starts thinking he’s a circus performer and that the curb is a tightrope strung high in the air. And sometimes after a rain he likes to step down off his tightrope right into the gutter and slosh around getting his shoes and cuffs wet. Then I get hit when I get home. Or sometimes if you don’t watch him he’ll dash across traffic to the island in the middle of Broadway and give the pigeons a fit. Then I have to go behind him apologizing to all the old people sitting around trying to get some sun and getting all upset with the pigeons fluttering around them[.]

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Raymond, Squeaky’s Mother, Squeaky’s Father
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:

[…] I’m serious about my running, and I don’t care who knows it.

Now some people like to act like things come easy to them, won’t let on that they practice. Not me. I’ll highprance down 34th Street like a rodeo pony to keep my knees strong even if it does get my mother uptight so that she walks ahead like she’s not with me, don’t know me, is all by herself on a shopping trip, and I am somebody else’s crazy child.

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Raymond, Squeaky’s Mother, Squeaky’s Father
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:

Now you take Cynthia Procter for instance. She’s just the opposite. If there’s a test tomorrow, she’ll say something like, “Oh, I guess I’ll play handball this afternoon and watch television tonight,” just to let you know she ain’t thinking about the test. […] I could kill people like that. I stay up all night studying the words for the spelling bee. And you can see me any time of day practicing running.

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Cynthia Procter (speaker)
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:

You’d think my mother’d be grateful not to have to make me a white organdy dress with a big satin sash and buy me new white baby-doll shoes that can’t be taken out of the box till the big day. You’d think she’d be glad her daughter ain’t out there prancing around a May Pole getting the new clothes all dirty and sweaty and trying to act like a fairy or a flower or whatever you’re supposed to be when you should be trying to be yourself, whatever that is, which is, as far as I am concerned, a poor Black girl who really can’t afford to buy shoes and a new dress you only wear once a lifetime cause it won’t fit next year.

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Squeaky’s Mother, Squeaky’s Father
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:

To the right, a blurred Gretchen, who’s got her chin jutting out as if it would win the race all by itself. And on the other side of the fence is Raymond with his arms down to his side and the palms tucked up behind him, running in his very own style, and it’s the first time I ever saw that and I almost stop to watch my brother Raymond on his first run.

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Raymond, Gretchen
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 31
Explanation and Analysis:

[…] it occurred to me that Raymond would make a very fine runner. Doesn’t he always keep up with me on my trots? And he surely knows how to breathe in counts of seven cause he’s always doing it at the dinner table, which drives my brother George up the wall. And I’m smiling to beat the band cause if I’ve lost this race, or if me and Gretchen tied, or even if I’ve won, I can always retire as a runner and begin a whole new career as a coach with Raymond as my champion. After all, with a little more study I can beat Cynthia and her phony self at the spelling bee. And if I bugged my mother, I could get piano lessons and become a star. And I have a big rep as the baddest thing around. And I’ve got a roomful of ribbons and medals and awards. But what has Raymond got to call his own?

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Raymond, Cynthia Procter, George
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 31–32
Explanation and Analysis:

And I look over at Gretchen wondering what the “P” stands for. And I smile. Cause she’s good, no doubt about it. Maybe she’d like to help me coach Raymond; she obviously is serious about running, as any fool can see. And she nods to congratulate me and then she smiles. And I smile. We stand there with this big smile of respect between us. It’s about as real a smile as girls can do for each other, considering we don’t practice real smiling every day, you know, cause maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something honest and worthy of respect…you know…like being people.

Related Characters: Squeaky (speaker), Raymond, Gretchen
Related Symbols: Running
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis: