Somewhere Special (Metaphor)
Tricia Ann looks forward to the day when the world will be free of racial discrimination. She promises herself that she will be part of the journey of ensuring that people are not discriminated against based on their ethnicity and skin color. She promises herself that she will travel to 'somewhere special' where people are treated equally regardless of race. Tricia asks Mama Frances to give her permission to travel to her special place. The author writes, "Tricia Ann called it Somewhere Special because it was her favorite spot in the world.”
The metaphor of the pocketbook
The pocketbook carried by Tricia Ann metaphorically represents the freedom of knowledge and expression. As much as there is racism against blacks, Tricia is confident that she can successfully fight for justice and equal treatment for all through education empowerment. The author writes, “pilling her pocketbook on her shoulder, Tricia Ann blew her grandmother a thank-you kiss.”
The Simile of Mama France’s advice
Mama Francis was saddened when Tricia asked for her permission to go to an unknown place. However, Frances was happy that her granddaughter was coming of age to fight for her reasonable beliefs. She reminds Tricia to behave well and know that she belongs to someone. Mama Frances tells Anne, "And no matter what, hold your head up and act as you belong to somebody.”
The metaphor of the green and white bus
The bus that Tricia Ann boards metaphorically illustrates the escalating racism against people of color. When Tricia gets into the bus, she squeezes her way to the back seat where it is written 'Colored Section.' The author writes, "At the corner, a green and white bus came to a jerky stop and hissed. When the doors opened and folded back, the girl squeezed her shoulders, walked to the back, and to a seat behind the Jim Crow that said: Colored Section."
The metaphor of the library
Tricia is a young girl, but she falls in love with the library. The library is a metaphor that does represent not only freedom of association, but also freedom to access knowledge. This library is closely linked to Tricia's pocketbook, which are both signs of empowering her to defeat racism.
