Maddy's Hair

Maddy’s hair represents her Black roots and represents how white culture mistreats Black people. When Maddy’s hair gets large after it gets wet, people disrespect her and throw pencils at her hair. This shows not just a disrespect of her but of Black people and Black physical characteristics in general. At the end of the novel, Maddy cuts off her hair, symbolizing that she is no longer going to let other people decide her fate.

Pictures of White Women

The pictures of white women on the walls in Maddy’s prayer closet symbolize an ideal which she can never achieve. She can never be 100% white. In reality, no one can live up to those images even if they are white because those images are touched up and represent people at their finest.

Mr. Washington's Television

Thomas Washington’s television symbolizes an attachment to...