4. “Your ambivalence will always be deplored by people who consider
themselves revolutionists, and your unorthodox behavior will cause
traditionalists to gnash their teeth,” said Truman, who was not, himself,
concerned about either group.
This statement appears in the last chapter, “Release,” and clarifies
Meridian’s elusive qualities and her mysterious, difficult-to-summarize
nature. Meridian searches for meaning and acceptance in the civil rights
movement, but she finds that even though her ardor comes naturally and she
is able to make significant contributions, the group’s sensibilities do
little to resolve her struggle for self-acceptance. At a gathering in New
York City, Meridian refuses to avow her willingness to kill for the cause,
despite being taunted, and Truman affirms that the thought of Meridian
killing someone is ludicrous. Meridian finds she must extricate herself from
such radical factions and pursue her own brand of social activism, returning
to her roots in rural communities in Alabama and Georgia. Her methods of
resistance are still unconventional, and she garners a sort of cult
following as people feed and care for her. Her social actions are eventually
labeled as “performances,” akin to a spiritual revival, in which Meridian
concludes the event by collapsing from emotional and physical exhaustion,
her illness once again sapping her strength. In the end, though, it is this
unconventional and fiercely independent spirit that leads Meridian to
self-salvation, health, and wholeness.
