How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Crossing a cane field, climbing a thread of path, passing a Negro house where in the yard there was a naked child fondling a little black goat, they passed into the woods through an avenue of bitter wild cherry trees. (2.7.10)
The narrator calls the house a "Negro house" which must mean something to the readers of the time. Given that the child in the yard is naked and the house is in the middle of the fields, off the roads, it would seem that a "Negro" house is a very poor house.
Quote #8
"This Toby, you see, she was a n***** baby, and her mama worked for old Mrs Skully like Zoo does now. She was Jesus Fever's wife, and Toby was their baby. Old Mrs Skully had a big fine Persian cat, and one day when Toby was asleep the cat sneaked in and put its mouth against Toby's mouth and sucked away all her breath." (2.7.11)
The relationship between Jesus Fever's family and the Skully family goes back generations. And the inequality does too. The idea that a very fancy, Persian cat would kill a child is horrifying, and shows that a pet overshadowed a baby's importance because the baby was black.
Quote #9
"Mister Randolph's granddaddy gimme this, that be more 'n sixty year ago." (2.9.6)
Jesus Fever has been working for the Skully family since Randolph's grandfather was in charge. The loyalty is, believe it or not, tied up in race relations. The idea of a servant belonging to a family has its roots in slavery. And it also shows that there are grey areas to these complicated, unequal relationships: Randolph's grandfather gave Jesus his prized sword as a gift.