America

The United States of America is the primary, broad-strokes setting for the narrative. Its history of racism, of capitalism, and of idealism that applies to the realities of a limited number of its citizens is the moral setting in which the characters, story, and situation develop.

New York City

New York City is a smaller scale setting for the narrative. With its history of being a cosmopolitan center for a variety of cultures, of being home to a large black population, and of being a center of struggle for various forms of civil rights, it becomes the cultural setting in which the characters, story, and situation develop. As well, the detailed descriptions of its street-by-street geography serve as metaphorical representations of the complicated, challenging life paths that Tish, Fonny, and their families are traveling.

Puerto Rico

In the latter half of the narrative, Sharon (Tish's mother) travels to...