Slavery

The memories of the characters illustrate what it meant to be owned as a slave. The colored women were victims of all men, black and white. They gave birth to both races, many times disposing of those born with whiter skin. A slave woman was warned never to become attached to anyone including her children because it was very likely any family member would be taken from her to be sold, killed or rent out. The women were valuable slaves because they reproduced and gave birth to more slaves.

The slave men were controlled by their owners. They were shackled, beat, humiliated for the benefit of the white man’s need. A slave owned nothing and was treated as savages. Slaves were at the mercy of their owners.

Death

The concept of death is an overlying theme in the story. Not only was seeing someone die familiar, but...