Chapter 27: All About Me
Summary
- In May 1960, Mrs. Mudford introduces a new class project, "All About Me," including a family tree activity.
- A child named Mad is initially uneasy about the project.
- Mrs. Mudford experiences frustration as the children humorously guess the project's focus, guessing various fictional characters to be the "very important person" related to the family tree.
- Mad insists that people are animals, creating conflict with Mrs. Mudford's beliefs, leading to classroom chaos with the kids imitating animals.
- After restoring order, Mrs. Mudford confirms that the person of interest is each child themselves.
- Children are instructed to have their family tree information filled out by their mothers.
- Mad's mother, Harriet, critiques and questions the purpose of family trees upon receiving Mad's assignment.
- Harriet recalls snooping in Mad's father Calvin's house, learning about his past, including his scientific career and troubled childhood.
- Harriet and Mad discuss the existence of godmothers and spirituality in a broader sense.
- Harriet reveals her conservative views on religion and marriage, while displaying a desire for a strong concept of hell.
- Harriet clearly does not share the same progressive mindset as Mad's mother Elizabeth regarding reading materials and intellectual stimulation.
- Mad reads advanced books, and Harriet is concerned about her unconventional interests compared to other children.
- Harriet questions whether traits can be passed on genetically as she notices Mad's resemblance to her father.
- Mad continues to question the nature of people, asking if they taste good after seeing an illustration in a book about cannibals.
- Harriet shares her struggles with accepting that Elizabeth's feminist television cooking show might not be renewed.
- Elizabeth believes in challenging stereotypes and cultural norms about gender roles and refuses to condescend to her audience or simplify her content.
- Mad suggests adding a "godfather" to her family tree, but Harriet dismisses the idea, emphasizing secrecy and privacy.
- Harriet suggests filling in the family tree haphazardly as the teacher won't know the difference, indicating a low regard for the assignment's educational value.
- In the end, Mad must also bring a family photograph to class, which prompts discussion on who should be included in the image of the "whole family."