The Never-Ending Battle Between Jes Grew and Atonism
At the end of Mumbo Jumbo , Hinckle Von Vampton and Hubert "Safecracker" Gould are captured, but Jes Grew dissolves. Nevertheless, PaPa LaBas remains optimistic that it will resurface, that it will never die out. Which makes one wonder: what would a true victory for Jes Gew -- or, for that matter, Atonism -- actually look like? PaPa LaBas (whom, on a completely unrelated note, I have the irresistible urge to keep calling Pops LeBops) says that Jes Grew has existed since before the universe and may outlive even death itself. Of course, the discussion of what exactly Jes Grew is is a whole other can of worms, but I take it as a representation of some part of a culture, especially African culture, that is the lifeforce of the people, that ties cultures to their roots, that evokes freedom, but also that threatens the status quo. According to the story, it seems that once Jes Grew finds its Text, its existence and place in mainstream culture will no longer be so uneasy. People wi...