Chapters 1 - 3 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 1

The chapter begins with reflections on the power and grace of Audre's mother. She notes that her father and mother came to the United States in 1924 and notes that her parents were able to find work despite discrimination. Audre notes the stock market crash and all the difficulties this brought upon her family. She remembers the Catholic prayers that her mother whispered and how her life as a child was filled with Grenadian song. The first chapter is largely a reflection on the character of Carriacou women, from an island in the Grenadines. These women were legendary for their love for one another. Zami is the name that expresses how Carriacou women love each other; it also represents their strength and beauty. Audre grows up longing for Carriacou and the women there. Her longing for the love of...