My Man Bovanne by Toni Cade BambaraThe short story entitled "My Man Bovanne" was written by Toni Cade Bambara published in Gorilla, My Love (1972), a collection of short films of Bambara stories. The article is not long at all but the content hits you like a ton of bricks. Subtle allusions to ageism and racism are scattered throughout his writings. This story tells the fictional story of a woman named Hazel Peoples and her tribulations in the face of a world that seems to have forgotten the importance of elders. Miss Hazel, the protagonist of the story, who is a 60-year-old mother, is confronted by her children for dancing with an old blind man at a political party. She faces many emotions while her children pursue her. She feels like she's being harassed by the police on two counts, almost as if she's being put on the stand and judged by her own offspring. Her children say she dances “like a dog in heat” (136). Obviously showing no respect for his own mother. Hazel even knows this and isn't sure how to approach the situation. She says at one point "It's terrible when your own children talk to you like that" (136), but all the while trying to keep her cool and defend herself against her moderating children. Hazel and her family have problems far beyond what is told in this short story. She and her daughter Elo have problems that go back a long way. Elo doesn't say much to his mother after an argument over Hazel's wearing wigs..