Coldest Winter: Ever Chapter one

is one of the most intriguing, hard-core novels of all time. In this novel, Sister Souljah tells the tale of a young girl named Winter Santiaga, who lives the ghetto-fabulous life of a Drug dealer’s daughter. I read this three times: high school, during college, and now as a graduate student and each time it gets deeper for me.

In High school. I was hooked on Urban novels. While I wasn’t fully emersed in the “hood” the life (from what was portrayed) seemed FABOLOUS. The cars, beautiful women who always had sexy men with tons of money (funded my drugs of course). But then, I didn’t see all of that. I just saw the glam.

In college. I saw Winter as a tragedy. Her whole MO was just sad. It’s crazy how when you revisit things they seem to change. Reading it now, I thought it would be interesting to delve deeper into the character and the novel as a critical reader I am now

Chapter 1 Summary

In chapter one, Winter begins her story by explaining how she “Came busting out [her] mamma’s big coochie,” on one of the most awful snow storms of January in 1977. She goes into detail describing their tricked out apartment in the Brooklyn Projects, and her mother’s impeccable style and perfect good looks. Winter’s mother had her when she was 14 years old. She also bore three other children, Porche, who is 4 years old, and set of twin girls, who are a few months old.

She describes her father as a well-respected and feared drug dealer that handles his operation like a businessman on Wall Street. Winter details an account of one of Sanitaga’s workers who was caught  looking at her with “lust” in his eyes. So, Santiago made an example out of him by showing the “proper” disciplinary, action-cutting the man’s face open.

Though Winter never really found herself going crazy over any boy, she mentions one guy who grabs her attention. Midnight. Midnight, who gets his name for it being the only thing being a shade darker than he, is considered Santiago’s most loyal and trust worthy worker because he never tried to screw him over.

The chapter ends on Winter’s 16^th birthday when her father announces that the family will be moving to a house in Long Island. The family leaves a few days later without telling a soul. They all walk out the house casually without packing any luggage because, “ Santiaga said [they] didn’t need it” (12).

My Take:

Okay, there’s a lot going on in the chapter. A lot young people will miss if all they’re focusing on is Winter’s “tricked out apartment” and nice clothes.  For one, I think it’s important to mention that the story begins by her saying this: “Brooklyn-born I don’t have no sob stories for you about rats and roaches and pissy-pew hallways” (2). Now this is interesting because she lives in the heart of the Brooklyn in one of it’s busiest project buildings, yet she is removed from that reality of what “project” life is; she’s a princess in the slums who does not go to school unless she has something to show off.

Winter’s mother has her when she was 14 years old. As if trying to encourage the cycle to repeat, she has this to say in response to Santiaga’s over protectiveness toward Winter, “When a woman wants to get fucked, she gets fucked. She gets fucked whether it’s in a car or a closet.” Now, instead of instilling abstinence in her daughter, she remedies the situation by reasoning its going to happen one way or another so they might as well let Winter do as she pleases. This  is the first sign we get early on of what this mother- daughter relationship will be like.

Winter seems to be the core of Santiaga’s heart. We can tell early on that he is her favorite. She is always s reciting to herself some lesson her father has told. We know that she does not go to school, so her father falls in place of  “teacher”. However, we must question what she is learning. Ever lesson is about the drug business as if he is shaping her for that line of work. Also, because these are the only lessons he teaches her this is all Santiaga has to offer her. He knows nothing else about life, and how to prepare her for it. So in the ways her mom doesn’t teach her abstinence which would repeat the cycle of young mothers in the black community, her father doesn’t teach her quality lessons about life; he focuses on the drug aspect he knows and nothing more, which repeats the cycle of having young black youth stay ignorant.

Winter states that her mom is a “Bad Bitch” By her definition, this is a woman who looks good, smells, good and is always on point.  She states that her mom would stay at the “vanity table for three hours making sure she positioned each extra long lash on just right” (3).   Her mom puts time into her outer appearance but doesn’t think it necessay to work on her inner self, as well.  To be with Santiaga means that she must be well put on the outside, it doesn’t matter what her insides, and her mind is like. Santiaga encourages this behavior because that’s how he thinks his woman is supposed to be- an ornament. And when this happens, when a woman because an ornament for a man, her thoughts and opinions are not worthy. This is seen in the last few page before the chapter ends. Around the table on Winter’s birthday Santiaga surprises them with the news that they would be moving to Long island, “Me, momma, and Porsche were all seated stiff and silent”(10). Now whats wrong here? Mrs. Santiaga is just as surprised as the kids are. If she and Santiaga are a couple that value each other, wouldn’t she of known of the purchase?  She’s equated to one of the kids and found out at the same time just like the rest of them. As his wife she should have known. It looks good on the outside, being able to get her hair done 3 times a week to look good and dress in nice clothing, but when your opinions aren’t a factor, is it worth it?