Bunch of Honeysuckle

After Tracy scares off the boy who was trying to take off Nonnie’s clothes when she was a child, she hands him a bunch of honeysuckle. She notices as he walks away that he has disposed of the flowers. This honeysuckle represents the relationship between Nonnie and Tracy which Tracy takes willingly, but later throws away.

Squash Bloom

Nonnie and Bess’ mother comments that Nonnie is beautiful after the child puts a squash bloom in her hair. Bess is jealous because she believes her mother doesn’t think that she is pretty.

Empty Box

When Bess goes outside one day to hear what her sister and Tracy are talking about, she sees Nonnie sitting alone. The box where Tracy usually sat was empty. To Bess that empty box becomes a symbol of the relationship between white men and black women.

Maxwell Press

The...