The Black Stones

The story's two black stones can be seen as representing, on one level, the power of family; and, on another level, how that power is defined by connection with the family's place of origin (Africa). In this context, it is important to note how, at the novel's conclusion, the most recent representative of the American family line is given the stone that has been passed down the African family line.

Early in the narrative, the mother of the two sisters who are the matriarchal ancestors of the two family lines that are the focus of the book's two narrative lines gives each sister a black stone, flecked with gold. The first of the two sisters, Effia, passes her stone to her daughter, and from there it is passed down through the succeeding generations, almost all of whom stay in Africa. The second of the...