I see the darkness as myself. & #8230;and I see the light as the knowledge and & #8230;the wisdom of the world, and the understanding of others."(Smith, 255) Twilight thus believes in understanding and tolerance between people, and this is why he associates his own name with an enlightenment. He is at the same time a philosopher, an advocator of peace and tolerance and an activist. Although at this time he is still watching over his own gang against the others and therefore identifying himself with his own race and with the people who are just like him, Twilight realizes there is need for a change in the way people perceive difference and react in multicultural environments: "And I know & #8230;in order for me to be a full human & #8230;being & #8230;I cannot forever dwell in darkness I cannot forever dwell in the idea & #8230;of identifying with those like me & #8230;and understanding only me and mine."(Smith, 255) Twilight identifies himself with his race, but feels that in order to be fully human, he needs to see himself as part of the whole...
Thus, Twilight is a complex character, a political activist who although has scope over his neighborhood only, is able to change something because he has a deeper understanding of difference and humanity than the others. Overall, Twilight is first of all wiser than many pf the other people and can represent the beginning of a new social age, based on tolerance and understanding: "I was twelve and thirteen, I stayed out until, they say, until the sun come up. Every night, you know.... I was a watchdog.... I stayed up in the neighborhood, make sure we wasn't being rolled on and everything ... A lot of people said, "Well. Twilight ... you have a lot more wisdom than those twice your age".... (Smith, 256)Twilight is therefore a wise political activist of the street, who has a clearer view of racial differences than most of the people around them, and who, although in the middle of a
conflict where it would be hard to be impartial, can see that people have to think differently so as to be true to their own humanity.
Works Cited:
Smith, Anna Deveare. Twilight:
Los Angeles, 1992. New York: Doubleday, 1994.
