In our family, as in much of the South, Black love was Black wealth.”
-- Brittany (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote exemplifies the theme throughout the text of resistance to racism and oppression through love and connection. Although Brittany’s family struggled economically, this did not mar Brittany’s loving childhood. For example, although she mentions that the home she, her mother, and her sister lived in had problems with the windows and heating, her main memories were of spending time with her family and experiencing their love. While Brittany does not minimize the challenges associated with poverty, she is equally attentive to the fact that poverty does not define one’s life or potential. This theme is reinforced in her description of her other clients, particularly Chris. This quote therefore not only contributes to the overarching theme of the first chapter—that love and connection can serve as a mode of resistance—it also...