Girl

“don’t sing benna in Sunday school” 

Benna is a key symbol in the text, and singing benna is a recurring motif. Kincaid adds her own Caribbean discourse to create cultural and social context in her work. In addition to adding some multicultural depth, the usage of the term “benna” also touches upon the gender theme evident in the text. “Benna” refers to a Caribbean genre of calypso music that contains sexual references and topics of gossip. The overt sexual nature of the music threatens the purity and virtue of the speaker’s daughter, which is why she warns her against singing it. The warning contrasts with the setting of the Sunday school. The mother wants the daughter to maintain the sanctity of the religious space, in addition to avoiding overt sexual influences.

“but I don’t sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school” 

The italicized formatting of this section of text signifies a voice different from that of the main speaker. If the main speaker is the mother character, then readers can infer through the content that the addressee is the daughter. The daughter questions the veracity of her mother’s assumptions, therefore trying to assert her own developing identity.