Representation and Power in “The Vanishing Half”

I cherish this opportunity to read any book that can give insight into the diverse experiences of the world I’m living in. Black History Month is a time when, each year, I especially like to read novels that bring forth complexities and triumphs of African American lives. I came upon “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett this year, and it instantly rose to the best. Deeply relatable, this novel cut through identities, family, and community in such a way that left an indelible mark in my perspective.

It feels like just the other day I finished “The Vanishing Half.” I was sad, happy-it felt so real. It was as if I connected to the characters. The way Bennett would weave together the story of twin sisters, Stella and Desiree Vignes, was nothing short of masterful. Growing up in Mallard, Louisiana, into their separate ways in adulthood, I found myself invested in their struggles and triumphs.

As I read, all the while my mind would consider just what happened or didn’t within my family stories flowing down to me through generations. This was a beautiful story of one family’s journey entwining stories of racism, identity, and community-the Vignes family. How poignantly and with power Bennett looked at just how the expectations within society might take hold within lives and understanding of self.

But what stands out in “The Vanishing Half” is a quiet reflection of identity. Shown through Stella’s and Desiree’s life journeys, Bennett demonstrates how identities can be multilayered, often being formed from the world one lives in. Reflecting upon being a Black woman, I recognized more fully how much of my identity rests in my heritage, my culture, my community.

Since I finished the book, it seems like “The Vanishing Half” is something that I find myself thinking about more and more than I assumed. It’s a novel that has just now made me think about representation in literature and the media. Stories have this power to mirror our experiences and let us know we exist. I’m grateful that there are still writers like Brit Bennett, who will go on writing works to delight us, puzzle us-even exhilarate us, as I forge ahead reading other novels down the line.

“The Vanishing Half” irreparably altered the course of my life in the insistence of continuing to read through stories reflective of mine and others. It is a powerful reminder that our stories are important, that they have the power to change us at deep levels.