How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"The next award is the award most special to my heart. A race is judged by its literacy, the ability of its members to read." (7.19)
So begins Mr. Mosely's presentation speech for Abby's award. Again we see the burden to represent their entire race put on these students' shoulders. While Abby's clearly an excellent student, even her success is racialized.
Quote #5
Cherokee Strip Day arrived. On Cherokee Strip Day there was an annual parade in the name of the Iroquoian Indians who were relocated from North Carolina and Georgia to Oklahoma. The parade generally lasted for hours and was one event that no one in Ponca liked to miss. (11.2)
Cherokee Strip Day winds up being important in the book primarily not for racial reasons, but we wanted to point out the seeming affinity between the black residents of Ponca City and the Indian residents. Everyone turns out for this parade, and in a time when racism is alive and well, we might recognize this as a display of solidarity between marginalized populations.
Quote #6
"My mama's not home."
"Yes, you told me. I'll wait for her." The woman entered the house without being invited.
Once inside, the county woman looked Abby up and down like she was inspecting a can of vegetables on a store shelf. (14.15-17)
Interestingly, at this point, "the county woman" has already given her name—it's Miss Miller—and yet the author continues to refer to her as "the county woman," letting us know that Abby sees her as more of an archetype than anything else. Abby, in other words, is wary. And rightly so—after all, Miss Miller waltzes into her house uninvited, which is majorly disrespectful. Do you think she would do the same to a white family?