Part 3 Summary
Part 3 starts with a funeral procession that is staged as a demonstration against the bloodshed and tumults that happened in East St. Louis in July of 1917. The African Americans in the march are walking resolutely and without noise down 5th Avenue to commemorate the deceased parents of Dorcas who were targeted due to their race. Alice Manfred has taken the responsibility of taking care of Dorcas' nine-year-old child who is now an orphan. Alice seeks solace from the mournful incident by listening to the rhythm of the drums and observing the expressions of the marchers.
The story starts to reveal Alice Manfred's past and the lifelong fears and struggles she has faced. It goes on to depict the tragic deaths of her sister and brother-in-law at the hands of racists. Additionally, Alice has also suffered the pain of her husband leaving her for another woman, adding to her already significant losses.
During her teenage years, Alice Manfred experienced discomfort regarding the changes in her body and sexual development. Her strict parents gave her mixed messages, causing confusion. As an example, they bound her breasts to conceal them.
Alice Manfred attempted to replicate a similar action with her niece, Dorcas. However, she acknowledges the errors she made with Dorcas and constantly replays them in her mind. Alice continues to question herself repeatedly about the reason behind Dorcas' death.
Was it inappropriate for her to teach Dorcas to avoid the attention and advances of white men? To protect Dorcas, she dressed her in clothing that concealed her body and made her look younger, such as covering her hair with a hat and putting her in dresses meant for a much younger child. This was Alice Manfred's method of keeping Dorcas safe.
Alice Manfred had a fear of how men would respond to her and how she was unfairly judged and treated due to her skin color. She was excessively cautious and guarded when it came to Dorcas, urging her to conceal herself and strive to remain unnoticed.
Dorcas resisted her aunt's strict and impractical regulations, as her mind and body rebelled against them. She would clandestinely attend social events and actively pursued the very things that her aunt was trying to shield her from. Dorcas was intentionally seeking out trouble, driven by a burning desire within her that she was willing to satisfy at any expense.
Dorcas went to a dance with her close friend Felice secretly, but unfortunately, the popular twins she approached turned her down with just a glance, maybe due to her attire. The rejection hit her so hard that it made her feel like life was too hard to bear.
Part 3 demonstrates that Joe is well-liked by women. He possesses attractive physical features, particularly his distinctive eyes and traditional southern manners. Although his ability to interact with women was necessary for his profession, he always maintained control of the situation until he met Dorcas.
Aunt Alice believes that women are vulnerable to various forms of abuse and considers them easy targets. She relies on either seeking refuge in God or joining a women's club to establish a supportive sisterhood as her primary methods of protection. As a middle-class black woman, Alice harbors a disdainful attitude towards those in her community who do not share her socioeconomic status, and she lacks an understanding of their customs and music.
Alice Manfred became even more courageous after Dorcas passed away as she combined anger with her preexisting fear. This newfound bravery allowed her to invite Violet over to visit, something she had been attempting to arrange for months.
(This entire section contains 774 words.)
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Alice Manfred became even more courageous after Dorcas passed away as she combined anger with her preexisting fear. This newfound bravery allowed her to invite Violet over to visit, something she had been attempting to arrange for months.
Initially, Alice and Violet struggle to interact with each other and communicate using cryptic language. Later, Violet discloses that she and Joe arrived in New York with the intention of making money. She attempts to provide Alice with a sense of Joe's past character. Eventually, Violet confessed that in addition to gathering information about Dorcas, she visits Alice to find a spot to relax and recuperate.
Alice observes that Violet behaves in an unusual manner, but she also realizes that Violet's behavior is not threatening. As a result, the two women begin to develop a relationship. Alice embraces Violet and her idiosyncrasies, mending her clothing and preparing tea for her. Violet believes she owes Alice an explanation for her conduct and asks, "Wouldn't you defend your significant other?"
Alice is compelled to respond negatively as she didn't take any action when her husband left her for another woman, causing her to still harbor feelings of pain and resentment. Alice reluctantly acknowledges that she still fantasizes about seeking brutal retaliation against the woman her husband ran away with.