Summary

Chapter 8 takes place the following day, May 29, 1906; New York, New York. Teddy is waiting up for Belle and wants to hear all about the party. Belle describes the dresses for her. Belle wonders if Teddy has any idea of the violent past that resulted in her “alabaster” skin. Belle also thinks about the struggle of maintaining a basic lifestyle in New York. However, “the tentacles of Jim Crow have stretched into New York” (65). This makes it even more imperative that she succeed at her job and keep the family's secret hidden to keep them from falling into the abject poverty most Black families face. As soon as Teddy goes to bed, Genevieve berates Belle for going to the party instead of studying. She asks if Belle expects another job like this if she were to fail. Genevieve joins Belle at the kitchen table...