Everything That Rises Must Converge

When examining “Everything Rises Must Converge”, like many short stories, you must read between the lines to understand it full and well. A simple reading cannot begin to tell the story that is not written on paper. This story takes place during the civil rights movement in the south and tackles the issue by telling a story of a prejudice mother with a blood pressure problem and her progressive thinking son, Julian, on their newly integrated bus ride to the gym. The story strives off of the tension built between white and black people commercing together on a newly integrated bus system. “Everything That Rises Must Converge” takes place over a very small amount of time during the civil rights movement and spans just the small trip of an incomplete bus ride. Here, Julians personality and motives will be analyzed, Julians mother will be examined, and the symbolism behind the hat and penny will be discussed
The story is written from Julians perspective which is very important because it only shows what he sees of her. It begins by describing his mothers weight problem and her issue with high blood pressure and her
The fact that the only traits described for Julians mother are less than desirable does not make them any less true. The wealthy family Julians mother comes from were slave owners and she seems to think of the memories of those times very highly instead of in any way remorseful. She draws distinct lines between races and shows no signs of supporting integration. The mere idea of having to share a city or even just a bus with a group of people she feels are below her eats at her core. Julians mother is very deluded in thinking more highly of herself than of anyone of a different color than her. She was struggling with poverty as were many of black people in this time period were struggling. The two are in one the same with the only separation being the color of their