Lois is the young first-person narrator and central character of Mildred D. Taylor's acclaimed children's book, The Gold Cadillac.
Lois: The Narrative Voice
As the narrator, Lois provides the reader with a child's perspective on the events unfolding in the story, particularly those related to the family's new gold Cadillac and their experiences with racial prejudice. Her innocent yet observant viewpoint allows the themes of family, pride, and discrimination to be explored through relatable experiences.
Key Characteristics of Lois:
- Age: She is a young girl, experiencing the world with curiosity and a developing understanding of its complexities.
- Family: Lois lives with her middle-class Black family in Toledo, Ohio. Her immediate family includes her sister, Wilma.
- Community: Her neighborhood is filled with extended family, including aunts, uncles, and cousins, creating a strong sense of community and closeness that she and Wilma cherish.
- Role in the Story: Lois recounts her family's excitement over their new car and the subsequent challenges they face due to racial discrimination during a trip to the South. Her journey through the narrative highlights the emotional impact of these experiences on a child.
Understanding Lois's Significance
Lois's voice is crucial to The Gold Cadillac because it offers a direct, personal account of racial inequality through the eyes of someone directly affected by it, yet still processing its implications. Her narrative allows readers to empathize with the characters and understand the societal issues presented in the story.
Mildred D. Taylor, the author, is renowned for her works exploring the experiences of African American families in the American South, often drawing on her own family history. The Gold Cadillac is one such story that vividly portrays the realities faced by Black families during the Jim Crow era, as seen through the eyes of children like Lois. For more information on the author and her contributions to children's literature, you can refer to resources like Mildred D. Taylor's author page on Penguin Random House or her biography on Britannica.
