People think blood red, but blood don't got no color. Not when blood wash the floor she lying on as she scream for that son of a bitch to come, the lone baby of 1785.
-- Narrator (chapter 1 paragraph 1)

Importance: This quote describes Lilith's birth. It is violent and represents the violent world of slavery she is entering.

Every negro walk in a circle.
-- Narrator (chapter 3 paragraph 1)

Importance: While this is the first time this quote appears, the same words appear at the beginning of several other chapters. The idea of the circle represents the fact that the life of the slaves is a vicious circle.

We not getting free, we're taking free, Homer say.
-- Homer (chapter 6 paragraph 90)

Importance: This quote shows the women's fighting for control over their own fate and lives as opposed to giving that control to others.

Me say, the thing with black woman, though, is that we don't get what we want and we never get what we need...
-- Homer (chapter 11 paragraph 36)