Chapter 7 Summary and Analysis

When Powell becomes a school for black children a year after she began attending, Florence transfers to Central Junior-Senior High and starts taking French in eighth grade. It comes easily and provides her with an automatic femininity without following Granny's rules. Granny is excited when Florence menstruates for the first time, especially when she develops cramps, saying, "her favorite Southern scenario was complete. I had taken to my bed of pain with female trouble" (pg. 98.) While a racial war rages over Central High, Florence reads "The Fountainhead" and tries to imitate Dominique Francon since she seems like a goddess. One of the ladies that Granny nursed dies and bequeaths her a house on 14th Street to Granny. After taking three weeks to clear the house of its contents, the family moves in with Mama and Herb giving up the pretense of...