takes his rageù-born certainly in large part by the abuse he experiences from whites-ùout on Essie Mae and her infant sister Adline. This black-on black violence is in part a result of white bigotry. In addition, we see that bigotry has been institutionalized in the South with socioeconomic results. Essie MaeÆs parents work for whites in the fields and are forced to leave their two children alone. Her ômother left some beans on the table and told me to eat them when I was hungry . . . I was some scared. Momma had never left us at home alone beforeö (14). We note here that even as a little girl in such a frightening position she is only ôsome scared.ö This foreshadows the courage and the level-headedness which will mark her character more emphatically as she evolves into a dedicated if realistic activist.
She is intelligent and thoughtful girl and women, and the reader shares with her the experience of personal and sociopolitical enlightenment step by step. She is
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