Part One: Chapters 3 & 4 Summary

Saturdays are the busiest days in Florence's house because it's when all the ladies in the neighborhood come by to pick up the cakes they've ordered. Each Saturday morning, Mama runs around the house frantically cleaning anything the gossip's eyes might land on. She always dresses up in nice clothes, combs her hair, and puts on her makeup. On her first Saturday back, everyone is thrilled to see Mama again. They gather like chickens in the kitchen catching her up on all the town gossip, which usually has to do with the "Coloreds." Immediately, Mama corrects the women: They don't want to be called "Coloreds," they want to be called "Negroes." The gossip stops as the women pay for the cakes and quickly skitter out of the kitchen. Mama is so frustrated that when the house is empty, she...