Eyes

The eyes of numerous characters are symbolic of miscegenation during slavery. This is because descendants of white men who raped Black women were sometimes lighter colored than they would be if they did not have this whiteness in their family line.

Gold Earrings

The gold earrings a white senator gave to Elizabeth and who Hazel later gives to Mary are symbolic of the very little the Black descendents of white slave owners have. The progeny of such slave owners remain slaves and are forever Black even if their skin is white. They are kept out of full inclusion in both Black and white circles. These earrings stay important to Kitty throughout her life as they remain a reminder to her of her mom.

Candles

Kitty uses candles and oil lamps rather than overhead lights. These are a symbol of her originality and how she does not...