Biopsychosocial Assessment of Gregory Williams: Life on the Color Line

Introduction

Gregory Williams was ten years old before he realized his own Black heritage. He was a self-described "white boy" whose father, Buster, had led him to believe he was half-Italian. It was not true: Buster was half African American, and when Gregory's parents separated and Buster took Gregory and his brother Mike back to Buster's family's town in an African American neighborhood, Gregory discovered the truth of his heritage — he was not "white" but rather one-quarter African American. Gregory went from being a star student and star athlete as a "white boy" to being discriminated against by school administrators and athletics directors because of his African American heritage. His biology played a part in his psychosocial development, but never to his permanent detriment, as he grew up to be a successful leader in his own right. Instead, Gregory's biopsychosocial background made him more determined than ever to accomplish the high goals he set for himself. This paper provides a biopsychosocial assessment of Gregory Williams from the memoir Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black.

When the book begins, Gregory is a boy of ten entering middle school. He is "white" by every objective measure: he has fair skin, brown hair, Caucasian features, and his language and mannerisms are patterned after those of his Caucasian upbringing. His home life, however, is troubled. His parents have separated, and he and his younger brother Mike are going to live with their father, Buster, in an African American neighborhood. The reason for this move is that Buster is half African American. Gregory and Mike are thus, socially speaking, African American by blood. While their features do not reveal this heritage genetically, it is evident from their father's background and family. Gregory, Mike, and Buster move in with Buster's sister and her husband — Gregory's aunt and uncle — who are African American and not well off. Tension quickly escalates as Gregory's uncle contends that Gregory and Mike are too much for him to handle, and the unrest in the home continues.

Identifying Information

Buster is also an alcoholic who has difficulty maintaining steady employment, which makes the living environment especially difficult for Gregory. He and his brother need stability, shelter, and nourishment, but Buster is unable to provide all of this on his own. Gregory and his brother are eventually sent to live with Miss Dora, an elderly woman who attends the same church as Gregory's aunt. The only alternative for the boys is an orphanage, and living with Miss Dora seems the more suitable option for everyone. She is willing to look after them, though she earns only $25 a week — not enough to provide for three people, let alone two young, growing boys. Buster offers to supplement her income with whatever money he can spare, which is usually very little. He meanwhile goes to live with his own mother, while Miss Dora looks after Gregory and his brother.

Gregory works hard in middle school and is a model student. He has a strong love of learning as well as a passion for sports, particularly basketball, which he enjoys for its competitive spirit. When he tries out for the high school basketball team, he earns a spot and plays well. However, when the coaches learn that he is part African American, he is demoted and removed from the team. This causes Gregory great disappointment, but he does not allow the setback to make him despondent. Instead, he throws himself into his schoolwork and develops a deep passion for history. As one door closes on him in athletics because of prejudice within the school system, another opens for him in the academic world.

Gregory initially struggles with the reality of being identified as "colored" once it is revealed to him, but he gradually learns to accept his heritage, and this acceptance fuels his desire to learn more about history. History becomes a way for him to better understand his place in the world. He also discovers that he has a special aptitude for the subject and can make sense of the larger arc of historical events and their meaning. His brother, by contrast, struggles with his identity and gets into trouble as he grows, following more closely in their father's reckless ways than in Gregory's conscientious effort toward discipline and success. Still, it is not easy for Gregory, as he psychologically grapples with his newly revealed heritage: "No! I answered, still refusing to believe. I'm not colored, I'm white! I look white! I've always been white! I go to 'whites only' schools, 'whites only' movie theaters, and 'whites only' swimming pools!" (Williams, 1996, p. 33).

Gregory's central risk is that he will succumb to the intense pressures of two racially divided environments — on one hand, the pressures of "whites only" spaces, and on the other, the pressures of the "colored" community. Neither environment fully accepts him as one of its own. Each judges him either by outward appearance or by genetic record, and prejudice extends from both sides. This dual marginalization makes it extraordinarily difficult for Gregory to adjust or to find a sense of belonging. If he shows interest in a white girl after being outed as "colored," he is reprimanded. If he associates with a girl whose skin color is darker than his own, he is equally reprimanded. Society does not know how to treat him, and the risk is that he will become depressed, anti-social, or fall into delinquency as his brother and father have done before him. The study of racial identity development highlights how such marginalization can have lasting psychological consequences for mixed-race adolescents.

Risk Factors

Considering his circumstances, Gregory's mental status is remarkably well-adjusted. He remains disciplined, focused, and appreciative of the sacrifices others make for him — most notably Miss Dora's sacrifice in raising him and his brother through the difficult middle years of adolescence. Miss Dora is not a blood relative but rather a kind woman who lives alone and genuinely wants to help. Her graciousness has a profoundly positive impact on Gregory, and she provides a strong source of support; his mental health clearly benefits from her warmth and kindness.