The new tribe Buchi Emacheta The new tribe

The new tribe Buchi Emacheta

The new tribe Buchi Emacheta Title refers to people from a different origin now living together – Story deals with children and adoptive parents needing to make adjustments. Living in mixed-race families and multi-cultural societies. Explores the challenges of adoption. Old tribe changing.

Setting: • 2000 – village in England. Arthur Arlington is an Anglican minister. • Shows the problems faced by adopted children in a mixed-race family. • Kind and supportive family unit – with adopted children.

Characters 1. Julian – paper boy who brings baby in bag to minister’s house. 2. Chester is black in white family and society. Identity problem. Tesco 3. Julia – sister – helps him. 4. Chester wants to know who his real mother is. 5. Once told about his origins he has a reoccurring dream (story book). 6. Chester asserts his independence – resists stereotyped role in play.

7. Feels he has ended his childhood years. 8. Julia becomes more withdrawn once she finds out that she is adopted. 9. Ginny has to make adjustments –accept that children are becoming independent and asserting own identities. 10. Arthur remains same – dependable and supportive – rock. 11. Chester and Ginny – show development and growth.

Summary – main points Ginny childless wife of minister. Abandoned girl brought to her - Julia. A Nigerian woman gives up her son – Chester. Ginny gives love to children – creates African story book for Chester. He starts experiencing sense on ‘unbelonging’ and difference. Resists being stereotyped ‘Orient’ king in nativity play. Wants to know who his real mother is … recurring secret dream from story book.

Plot development 1. Exposition – Ginny and Arthur are childless. 2. Complications – Adopt two children – girl found in a shopping bag and boy brought to them. Chester struggles with identity problem. 3. Climax – Chester wants to know who his real mother is. Tell children the truth –adopted. He has recurring dream about an African village. Keeps it secret. 4. Resolution – Chester no longer wants to be king from Orient. Learns to be independent BUT still relies on Arthur and shows love for Ginny.

Themes Identity problems. Challenges of adoption and of mixed-race families. Desire to belong - Fear of rejection. Tone – caring. Love given by parents. Create a stable and supportive home environment. Occasionally mood unsettled. Chester’s inner struggle. Atmosphere largely calm and thoughtful.

Themes • Some Themes: mixed-race families; adoption and its challenges; life choices; childhood and independence NEED TO KNOW • Title: A reference to people who came from Africa but are now living in Britain. Chester is part of this “new tribe”. • Setting: A village in England, in 2000. • Climax: Chester discovers that he has been adopted.

Need to know Characterization: • Chester – Nigerian – black child adopted by a white family; struggles with identity issues, “a sense of unbelonging” which is reinforced when Ginny speaks to him about “your people”. He wants to know who his biological parents are. Later he learns to stand up for himself and become independent. • Ginny Arlington – a motherly figure; could not have children of her own, but always wanted children – excitedly accepts the baby Julia and Chester; She and her husband were known as “exemplary parents” – requested to adopt a second child; creative – makes an African story book for Chester – to educate him about his roots; patient, loving, calm, but “certain” (confident), emotionally strong; not a racist – accepts a black child into her family.

• Arthur Arlington – adoptive father; a vicar/ reverend; a rational thinker – anticipates possible problems with Chester’s adoption – e. g. What if Chester’s mother returns? • Julia Arlington – adopted – loves her adoptive parents and her brother, Chester. She protects Chester. Named after Julian, the paperboy who found her and brought her to the Arlingtons. • Julian – the paperboy; kind, caring – found the abandoned baby (Julia) • Ray Miller – Chester’s classmate and friend – consoled by Chester • Miss Stattery – Chester’s Grade 1 teacher