Eugenia Collier arose on April 6, 1928. She was raised by loving parents and was influenced by her father’s love for poetry. Collier claims that the one thing that made her happy was being able to sit on her father’s lap and listen to his poems. Collier was an intelligent child who attended Howard University from an early age. “She earned her B.A. Howard University (magnacum laude) awarded her B.A. in 1948. D. Eugenia Collier’s story, “Marigolds”, is about growing up during the Great Depression. Collier and Lizabeth were both Maryland-born. Collier and Lizabeth both grew-up during the Great Depression. Collier, like Lizabeth, is African American and uses this to show the struggles that came with growing up in prejudice. These connections are a result of Colliers’ own life experiences and show how she created her work.
“Marigolds,” is a series that focuses on Lizabeth, an eight-year-old girl. She is a grown-up and often follows her neighbor’s lead when they tease or taunt their neighbors. Their mischievousness is often directed at one neighbor. Mrs. Lottie is a gardener and tends to it every day. She is tormented by her children throwing rocks and sticks at her. Lizabeth is finally able to stop being tormented by her children. She feels embarrassed when she realizes how grown-up she is. The Great Depression strikes again, and her father starts to cry. Her world crumbles. Although she thought she was grown, the man who is most important to her now starts crying. In despair she runs to Mrs. Lotties house, rips apart the marigolds from her backyard and flees. The beauty of her life is represented by the marigolds. The beauty of her life seems lost when it all falls apart. It’s absurd. Finally Lizabeth realizes that she can plant marigolds on her own. Even in her mess, she finds beauty. “The title refers to the efforts people make in their barren existence to find beauty and hope.” Marigolds are a reminder that even though your world seems to be crumbling, there’s always hope for new growth. People lose their innocence as they grow up. They become more unsure about life and lose the innocence they had as children. This story shows us that beauty can be found at any stage of life.
