History Repeats Itself

Ward’s use of the theme of history repeating itself shows readers that certain factors have been at play in her community for generations, indicating that the cycle they live in is extremely difficult to break out of. Her ancestors have lived in a certain way, her parents lived in that same way, and the people in her generation do, too. This cycle is a contributing factor in the early deaths that occur in her community and Ward sets out to show that through the stories she tells.

Ward begins the book by examining the history of her ancestors. In their stories she discovers instances of racism, violence, and substance abuse. Among her ancestors are Black man and a White woman who marry and have children. When they visit the woman’s family, they have to be especially careful to return home before dark to avoid...