Millwood

Millwood is the city in Mississippi where Florence and her family live. Millwood is divided into a white neighborhood and black neighborhood known as Shake Rag. During the novel's setting, Millwood is fully segregated and in the midst of a turbulent battle for civil rights.

Mississippi

Mississippi is the state where Florence Forrest and her family live during Florence's childhood. She runs away from Mississippi with Mimi a few weeks before her eleventh birthday.

Louisiana

Louisiana is the state where Florence and Mama live as adults. They live in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, where Daddy dies after the storm floods his nursing home.

Segregation

Segregation is the enforced political state of Mississippi during the mid 1960s when this novel is set. Segregation required blacks to live in separate neighborhoods from white, use separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, swimming pools, schools, and much more. As a result of segregation...