It is normal for parents or grandparents to have a difficult time letting go of their children. The short story “Building Bridges” by Andrea Pinkney shows this through the relationship of Bebe and her grandmother, Mama Lil. Bebe dreams of being an engineer, but Mama Lil refuses to let her work on a renovation project on the Brooklyn Bridge. Bebe knows the project is an amazing opportunity and it would help secure her future career, but Mama Lil puts foot down. Andrea Pinkney shows us through the relationship of Mama Lil and Bebe that you have to sacrifice things for those you love.
In the beginning of the story, Mama Lil refuses to let Bebe do the bridge project. When Bebe first approaches Mama Lil about the project, Mama Lil says, “… I ain’t never heard of no girls be doing that.” (p. 17). This leads the reader to infer that Mama Lil is very old fashioned in the sense that she believes gender dictates your job possibilities. She believes engineering, or “engine-ing” as she calls it, is not the work of a young women; young women shouldn’t be doing “grit-work” like that, she says. But that’s not all Mama Lil has to say about Bebe’s wishes to be a part of the renovation project. Mama Lil says, “… Colored women trying to cross the white man’s line is asking for trouble.”(p.21). From this the reader can infer that Mama Lil believes from her own experiences that race also dictates the type of job you can get. Mama Lil believes that Bebe - as a young black female - should be working at Rimley’s Beauty Salon, she even gets Bebe a job application.
Later in the story, Mama Lil admits why she really didn’t want Bebe to do the project. Mama Lil says to Bebe, “Your dreams are the kind that’ll take you away from here,” (p. 29). Mama Lil had refused to let Bebe participate in the renovation project because she knew that a career in engineering would carry Bebe away from her, and this project was Bebe’s stepping stone. Mama Lil had already lost Bebe’s parents to a fire, and she was afraid of losing Bebe too. “Her eyes were filled with sad acknowledgement,” (p. 30) thinks Bebe after she tells Mama Lil that she is doing the project, no matter what. Mama Lil finally starts to make herself admit that Bebe needs to live her own life. She begins to come to terms with the fact that Bebe has her own dreams, and deserves to accomplish them.
In the end of the story, Mama Lil finally lets Bebe participate in the project. The morning of the project, Bebe wakes up, goes into the kitchen and tells Mama Lil she needs the permission paper because she is going to the project whether she likes it or not. Mama Lil hands Bebe the unsigned permission slip. “I been up most the night, Bebe – thinking, praying, and trying my best to read that confounded permission paper….Will you help me read the permission paper, Bebe?” (p. 34). She says. Mama Lil can’t read or write very well so she is giving up her pride by asking Bebe for help. This shows how much Mama Lil cares about Bebe and how much she is willing to give up for her. Just as Bebe is leaving, Mama Lil says, “Bebe, that bridge is lucky to have you.” (p. 34). Mama Lil realizes that she should be proud of Bebe. Just because Bebe is going to have a real career, doesn’t mean Mama Lil is losing her permanently.
It is very common for parents or guardians to have a hard time saying goodbye to their kids. Through Mama Lil and Bebe’s relationship, Pinkney shows how difficult this period of time in a families’ life can be. She shows us that sometimes what you want isn’t what they need and you have to make sacrifices for your loved ones. Mama Lil wants Bebe to stay with her and work at Rimley’s but Mama Lil realizes Bebe is going places and she needs to follow her own dreams.
