Minha mãe

Minha mãe is Florens' mother. The entire story stems from Minha mãe and her attempts to save Florens from being abused, punished, raped and beaten at the hands of the D'Ortegas and others.

The author shares Minha mãe's history. Minha mãe speaks about being sold and being confused because the men selling them are black. Some people wept; some fought; some sang. Minha mãe speaks of the voyage from Africa by way of Barbados and how she would have preferred to be eaten by sharks but the sharks would not have her. Minha mãe even pretended to be dead so that she would be thrown overboard, to no avail.

Minha mãe had been sold to D'Ortega to work in the tobacco fields. After Minha mãe and the others had been raped, the men apologized and explained that they...