Chauffeur uniform

James' chauffeur uniform, instead of being a symbol of servility, represents James' independence as he moves through the world, since he is the owner of his own chauffeur company. As Dana observes, a chauffeur who wears the uniform but does not own their company is "no better than the monkey decked out in a red jacket with gold braiding" (28).

Fur coat

The fur coat which James gifts to Dana before her presentation at the science fair ultimately comes to represent how James has made himself, in many ways, fundamentally unknowable to Dana. James had told Dana that he had won the coat in a card game, which is revealed to be a lie when Dana happens to see Chaurisse at the science fair, wearing the exact same coat.

Mays High School

Dana's entry into the magnet program at Mays High School represents her place in...