b) at the strife. Discuss their encounter at the strife. The Strife was in the 60s when some were fighting against non-segregation. How does Morrison tease the reader by challenging our set ideas of culture differences?
Who would be demonstrating before their school? Black mothers or white mothers? In this story, who is demonstrating? Who is bringing her child to the school?
One day, Twyla is driving out near the school that is supposed to be integrated and she sees Roberta holding a big sign that says “MOTHERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO!” Twyla pulls over and honks her horn; Roberta waves and comes over.
They begin to argue when Roberta states that she is picketing because this is about their kids. They both say that they thought the other one was different. Twyla scoffs at the other women and their signs “swarming all over the place” as if they owned it. Roberta looks, then turns back and says they’re just mothers. The two women are visibly frustrated.
From the text, we can infer that Twyla is white. We are not, however, told which character is white and which is black.
Recitatif
