Genre
African-American realistic literature
Setting and Context
1900s, Harlem Renaissance
Narrator and Point of View
Tells the story of Emma Lou Morgan from her perspective
Tone and Mood
The book has a despairing tone, for everywhere Emma Lou turns she seems to face discrimination and racism based on her darker skin tone.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Emma Lou / no true antagonist
Major Conflict
Emma Lou is attempting to find herself in a world that is racist and unaccepting, including within her own African-American community.
Climax
Emma Lou realizes she has spent her entire life running from prejudice and her own fears. She realizes she must accept her skin tone and help others do the same.
Foreshadowing
Emma Lou's experience at USC, where she is caught between different groups and never truly fitting in, is indicative of her conflicted journey the rest of the book.
Understatement
No significant instances.
Allusions
The book alludes to the Harlem Renaissance, the burst of artistic creativity and black expression happening in Harlem, happening while Thurman was actually writing the book.
Imagery
No significant instances.
Paradox
While Emma Lou is black and faces discrimination from whites, she is also repeatedly discriminated against by other members of the African-American community.
Parallelism
Emma Lou's story parallels many of the real-life experiences of darker-skinned black women of the time.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
No significant instances.
Personification
The issue of racism and prejudice is personified through the many men/boyfriends Emma Lou meets throughout the story.
