Summary

In “Letter to My Sister (St. Charles, Mo., 1885),” a woman writes to her sister about her life in Missouri. She longs for her and her sister’s children to someday be free and to record their stories.

In “Cecil’s Consolation (1941),” Cecil takes “the shortest route” through crowded streets (129). As “a black engineer,” he feels barred from most opportunities (129).

In “The Spotters,” the speaker reflects upon those Black individuals who tried to pass for white so as “to become someone new” and someone free (131).

In “Blues,” a married woman frequents local establishments and sleeps with Black men. Her husband is at home, lamenting his wife’s absence.

In “Portrait of the Father as a Young GI,” when the speaker’s father was a GI, he wore “a mask” like most other Black men (134).

In “Vision...