Marquez 1

Adamaris Marquez
Introduction to Literature
Dr. Paul Bowers
September 11, 2022
1. At what point to you begin to make assumptions about the race and class of the two main
characters, Twyla and Roberta? Why?
2. Do you change your mind later in the story? When and why so--or not?
3. Finally, Morrison withholds information about the characters' race. Why do you think she
does so? How does that decision challenge you as a reader?

When Twyla mentions that it was one thing to be pulled out of your bed early in the morning
but it was something else to be roomed with a girl that was a completely different race. Their
first interaction made me assume that she was black and Roberta was white because Roberta
turned her back to Twyla instead of introducing herself. There was also the moment where
Roberta’s mother refused to shake hands with Twyla’s mother. I figured she didn’t realize that
Twyla and Mary were black until the two girls introduced them to each other. The fact that she
left and the way Mary reacted convinced me I was right.
There were also the moments throughout the story where Roberta’s life carried a privilege
that Twyla’s did not. Her knowledge of Jimi Hendrix and the fact that she wasn’t the one
working at a Howard Johnson’s. Then there’s their interaction at the grocery store where she was
dressed to kill and had a handful of diamonds whereas Twyla was concerned about her spending.
And the moment where she was out with her friends in a silvery night gown and dark fur while
Twyla was looking for a Christmas tree. I interpreted this privilege in her life as white privilege
therefore it made sense, she would just be enjoying her life.
However, now I see that this could have also occurred because of class. Instead of not
realizing that Mary and Twyla were black upon meeting them, Roberta’s mother could have
realized that they were of a lower class. At the beginning of the story Twyla talks about how her
mother would stop dancing long enough to tell her something important. She mentions that
during one those times, her mother told her that they don’t wash their hair and that they smelled
funny. What if the “they” referred to the African American community. That would explain why
Twyla brought up the way Roberta smelled and even said that her mother would not be happy
that she was roomed with Roberta.
I keep going back and forth on the races and classes of both girls. I keep thinking of how
these interactions would all be explained if I just knew which one was which. Morrison’s
vagueness leaves the reader with a lot of questions. Especially since she isn’t only vague about
Twyla and Roberta and their families but also very vague about Maggie’s race. Who knows,
maybe if we knew whether the mute woman wearing a little kid’s hat was black then we’d be a
little closer to knowing more about Twyla and Roberta.