Summary

“Snowfall” (74) begins with a statement from Rhonda to her partner Arletha, the narrator, as they are clearing snow from their driveway one morning: “Black women aren’t meant to shovel snow” (75). The narrator understands that Rhonda means Black women are seen as resilient but that no amount of winter clothing and gear can protect them from the cold and the chill. She says that the snow is nevertheless beautiful. As she reflects out loud that the Black women born in their city must be used to the snow, Rhonda tells her that not everything needs interrogation, using her name, “Arletha,” for the first time. The narrator observes that Rhonda only calls her Arletha when she is angry, but Leelee the rest of the time. In the present moment, Rhonda appears to be angry because Arletha overslept, leaving her to clear most of the snow...