Comes flivverin’ in, / Or ridin’ mules, / Or packed in trains
-- Speaker (Lines 9-11)

Importance: This quote uses a list format to encompass some of the struggles faced by impoverished Black people at this time. A “flivver” is an antiquated colloquialism for a vehicle that’s in a poor state of repair and that may present dangers to its riders, while mules were work animals often owned by those who could not afford horses. Finally, “packed in trains” refers to segregated train cars in which passengers of colours would be crammed together, even when there was space available in the more elaborate “white” carriages.

From blackbottorn cornrows and from lumber camps
-- Speaker (Line 20)

Importance: This line alludes to the manual labour Black workers were often restricted to during this time period. The phrase “blackbottorn” is likely a reference to Rainey’s song “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, which was later adapted into a stage play and film biopic...