Hattie wanted to give her babies names that weren’t already chiseled on a headstone in the family plots in Georgia, so she gave them names of promise and hope, reaching forward names, not looking back ones.
-- Narration (1 - Philadelphia and Jubilee, 1925)

Importance: This line of narration emphasizes the mixture of grief and hope that defines Hattie's move from Georgia to Philadelphia. Hattie is still in grief over her father's murder, but at the same time, she gives her twin infants names that reflect her hope for the future. This dynamic reflects the multifaceted emotional elements of many African-Americans, such as Hattie, who moved north during the Great Migration.

I should hang myself like Judas.
-- Narration (2 - Floyd, 1948)

Importance: At the end of Chapter 2, Floyd feels a sense of deep shame and regret, as he was not brave enough to defend Lafayette or pursue a romantic relationship with him. Floyd is bisexual, and while he has many romantic/sexual relationships...