What Celine Dion the Chow Chow Represents in Black Friend

In Ziwe’s memoir Black Friend, the dog named Celine Dion the Chow Chow appears as a concrete symbol that at first seems like a quirky pet but quickly becomes a vehicle for examining the limits of external safety. Adopted for protection after a racist encounter, the dog fails to intimidate anyone, and in a later racist incident he remains blissfully unaware. This pattern exposes how no physical safeguard—whether a dog or a partner’s skepticism—can replace the internal vigilance required to navigate a world where racism is a constant distraction.

What Is Celine Dion the Chow Chow?

Celine Dion is a purebred black Chow Chow that Ziwe acquires after moving into her first solo apartment on Cornelia Street. She names him after the Canadian pop star because, in her words, “he is a diva.” The dog is described as having a stiff-legged gait, a bushy tail, and a black tongue. Ziwe explicitly states that she got Celine Dion to protect her, but the dog is “too cute to intimidate strangers” and actively avoids cuddling. The dog is not a threatening presence; he is a beloved but useless guard animal.

Where and How the Symbol Recurs

Celine Dion appears primarily in Chapter 13: Cornelia Street. The chapter opens with Ziwe explaining why she felt she needed a guard dog—fear of being a single woman living alone. She then narrates two incidents with the dog:

1. The bird attack – While walking Celine Dion, the dog tries to eat a baby bird, and the mother bird attacks Ziwe’s head. The dog simply smiles, as if playing a game.
2. The racist park encounter – An elderly white man yells at Ziwe to “go back to where you came from” in Washington Square Park. Celine Dion trots along, wagging his tail, completely oblivious to the threat.

The dog also appears in a brief email exchange with Ziwe’s accountant, where she asks whether a guard dog is tax deductible and is told no. This email serves as a dry punchline that underscores the failure of the dog as a defense.

Though the dog is not mentioned in subsequent chapters, the theme of inadequate protection recurs in Chapter 15: my body of work, where Ziwe reflects on her body as labor and the limitations of physical presence.

How the Symbol’s Meaning Shifts

Initially, Celine Dion represents the idea that a dog can provide safety and companionship. Ziwe adopts him specifically to guard her from harm. The first incident—the bird attack—is comedic but already shows the dog’s uselessness: instead of protecting her, he becomes the cause of her distress.

The second incident changes the meaning entirely. When the old man screams at Ziwe, Celine Dion does nothing. This passivity transforms the dog from a failed guard into a symbol of the inadequacy of external protection against racism. No amount of preparedness—a dog, a partner’s support, a safe apartment—can prevent the moment when a stranger targets you. The symbol becomes a sobering reminder that safety is never guaranteed.

Furthermore, the dog’s silence during the racist tirade mirrors the silence of the boyfriend who later asks, “How do you know he was racist?” Both the dog and the boyfriend fail to validate Ziwe’s experience. The dog cannot speak, and the boyfriend refuses to believe. This parallel deepens the symbol: Celine Dion becomes not just a failed guard but also a figure of the absent witness—the thing you rely on that provides no testimony.

Connections to Characters and Themes

• Ziwe – As the owner, Ziwe projects her need for security onto the dog. Her repeated attempts to educate the dog (and others) reflect her broader struggle to be heard. The dog is a stand-in for her desire for a loyal companion who can keep her safe, but she ends up being the protector.
• Ziwe’s Boyfriend – In the same chapter, Ziwe recounts a prior relationship where her ex-boyfriend doubted her account of a racist incident on the D train. The current boyfriend repeats the same pattern: “How do you know he was racist?” This character connection shows that the failure of belief is systemic—not just a dog, but even intimate partners can fail to provide the protection of trust.
• The Elderly White Man – He is the antagonist who activates the symbol. Without him, the dog’s uselessness would remain a joke. His racism forces the dog into the role of a failed safeguard.
• The Park Worker – The black woman in the parks uniform initially ignores Ziwe but eventually listens. She represents the only person who offers a form of solidarity, unlike the dog.

Theme Links

The symbol directly connects to the theme of racial microaggressions and erasure. The racist encounter in the park is a clear microaggression—a seemingly minor act that carries the weight of a lifetime of similar incidents. The dog’s inability to intervene mirrors the societal failure to intervene in such moments.

It also touches on code-switching and authenticity. Ziwe must code-switch when explaining the incident to her boyfriend, translating her fear into a rational account that he can accept. The dog, being an animal, cannot code-switch; he simply is what he is—harmless.

Finally, the symbol connects to imposter syndrome and self-doubt. After the park incident, Ziwe questions herself: was it really racist? The dog’s presence as a “guard” that doesn’t guard reinforces her feeling that she cannot trust her own safety systems.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Ziwe name her Chow Chow after Celine Dion?
Ziwe names the dog after Celine Dion because the singer is known as a diva, and the dog behaves like a diva—aloof, demanding, and indifferent to affection. The name also carries a humorous contrast: a pop icon known for emotional ballads matched with a dog that shows no emotion.

2. How does the dog’s behavior during the park incident change the meaning of the symbol?
Before the park incident, the dog is a comedic failure—cute but useless. After the racist encounter, the dog’s passive enjoyment becomes a symbol of how external protections (including physical ones) cannot shield a person from racism. The meaning shifts from lighthearted to serious, exposing the gap between the desire for safety and the reality of constant threat.

3. In what way does the dog parallel the boyfriend’s response to the racist incident?
Both the dog and the boyfriend fail to acknowledge the danger. The dog trots along unaware, while the boyfriend asks, “How do you know he was racist?” Neither provides the validation or protection that Ziwe needs. This parallel shows that the failure of external safeguards extends from animals to intimate relationships.

4. What does the email about tax-deducting a guard dog reveal about Ziwe’s state of mind?
The email demonstrates Ziwe’s attempt to treat racism as a practical problem that can be solved with a financial or logistical solution. The accountant’s blunt “No” mirrors the reality that systemic racism cannot be deducted, insured, or traded away. It reinforces the symbol’s ultimate message: vigilance is not something you can buy.

Conclusion

Celine Dion the Chow Chow is far more than a pet anecdote in Black Friend. He embodies the false promise of external security and the exhausting truth that, for Black women, safety is an ongoing negotiation. Through comedy and tragedy, Ziwe uses this symbol to critique the notion that one can ever be fully protected from racism. The dog remains cute, silly, and utterly ineffective—a perfect emblem for the limits of protection in a world that demands constant vigilance.