How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"Byron is getting old enough to have to understand that his time for playing is running out fast, he's got to realize the world doesn't have a lot of jokes waiting for him. He's got to be ready." (9.18)
Once again, the grown-ups want these kids to be "ready" for something they don't quite see yet. Byron's foolishness would be a bad start for any kid becoming a grown-up, but Dad seems to think that it will be especially challenging for him because he's African American. When Dad says the world doesn't have a lot of jokes waiting for Byron, he's talking about the extra struggles that African Americans face because of the racist attitudes and discrimination of the time.
Quote #5
I could tell there was something that Joey wasn't too happy about. [...] Mrs. Davidson had bought Joey a little angel that was kind of chubby and had big wings and a halo made out of straw. The only thing about it smile that looked like Joey to me was that the angel had a great big dimple too. I was made out of white clay and it looked like someone had forgotten to paint it. The only thing that had any color on it were its cheeks and its eyes. The cheeks were red and the eyes were blue. (9.60)
Why do you think it bothers Joey so much to be compared to a white angel? Would it bother you to be compared to an angel of a different race?
Quote #6
Dad did an imitation of a hillbilly accent. "'Cuz, boy, this he-uh is the deep South you-all is gonna be drivin' thoo. Y'all colored folks cain't be jes' pullin' up tuh any ol' way-uh an be 'spectin' tuh get no room uh no food, yuh heah, boy?" (9.112)
Oh Dad, always the jokester. He doesn't want to scare the kids, but the reality is frightening. Once the Watsons get into the South, they can't stop just anywhere to stay or to eat. There's a real danger to this trip that Momma and Dad constantly downplay but that begins to foreshadow the danger they'll face in Birmingham.