bodies of black people lying on the shore. Herald becomes one of these bodies, waiting there. In the vision, the wind breathes life into Herald and the others, causing everyone to stand and walk. Despite the vision compelling him to stand, Herald finds himself unable to move in reality. Still caught in the vision, Herald insists he must stand and get on the road, but his legs refuse to cooperate.

Analysis
In scene three, we discover that although Seth enjoys the advantage of being born in the North to free parents, he still faces daily racism. This is evident when he fails to convince local white businessmen to lend him the capital to start his own business. Meanwhile, Bynum’s conversation with Jeremy reveals the misunderstandings between men and women. The tension between the sexes during this time of increased mobility and loss of identity can be traced back to slavery, a period when families—husbands, wives, parents, and children—were often separated by their owners. Mattie has experienced loss and longs for stability in a relationship. However, Jeremy neglects Mattie’s emotional needs, showing a preference for physical attraction. Just as Jeremy decides to live with Mattie, he meets Molly and is immediately smitten. Jeremy’s quick infatuation with Molly highlights his readiness to abandon Mattie, illustrating the challenges faced by single and kin-less black women. Bynum advises Jeremy to respect the women he associates with, just as he would respect his mother. Unlike Mattie, Molly is a traveler who represents an independent and self-aware black woman in a free world. She is unapologetic about her desires for companionship, even if some view them as inappropriate. Mattie appears weaker, more dependent on men, and yearning for stability in her romantic life. In contrast, Molly is confident, self-reliant, and comfortable with transient relationships; she is simply following her own path.

The two most significant elements of scene four are the Juba and Herald’s vision. The Juba is a blend of African American song and dance, merging Western and African traditions. It symbolizes the potential for new, hybrid identities that African Americans can embrace: they are both African and American. Participants in the Juba seem to connect with both Christianity and African spirituality. Additionally, the Juba brings the boardinghouse residents together, if only temporarily, fostering a sense of community. Recreational and spiritual activities like the Sunday dinner and the Juba help form alternative family-style communities during this era of increased mobility.

Herald’s vision symbolically describes the terrifying process through which African slaves lost their cultural identities. Initially, they cross the ocean, with many perishing along the way. This journey, known as the Middle Passage, was infamous for the high death toll among Africans—caused by disease, overcrowding, and occasionally by mutiny or other acts of rebellion. The bodies of those who died were often thrown into the sea. In Herald’s vision, the horrors of the Middle Passage are depicted by bones rising from the water. Upon arriving on American shores, the African slaves faced the brutality of slavery. In Herald’s vision, the bones transform into flesh but remain immobilized. These are bodies that exist but are not truly alive, symbolizing the dehumanizing conditions of slavery. When the black bodies in the vision begin to breathe and stand, it represents the liberation of the slaves. Herald’s struggle to stand and walk, to join the others on their journey, signifies that he has not yet achieved mental or spiritual freedom from slavery or forced labor. He does not participate in the Juba or engage in the community-building activities at the boardinghouse because he has not yet recognized his potential to create a new identity as a free man; he is not prepared to interact with others as an equal.