Kendra Rae, her story had riled up the establishment at Wagner and even put off her childhood friend Diana. Kendra Rae suspects that Diana chose to alienate her because of Diana’s close relationship with Richard. Further, their other childhood friend Imani was involved in the conspiracy as well. Something had changed Diana. There was a clear link between Richard, Diana, and OBGs like Eva/Hazel.

As Shani awaits Nella, she receives a call from a furious Lynn, who knows Shani is about to meet Nella. Shani realizes Will, whom she had tasked with delivering her note to Nella at the café, has told on her. She tries to defend herself, but Lynn screams at Shani to “go black” immediately, as she is now on her own and in danger. Lynn tells her “Kenny” is nearby. As Shani tries to make sense of Lynn’s words and prepares to run, an arm yanks her into a car.

Chapter 15

Nella nervously paces the sidewalk around 100th and Broadway, waiting for her anonymous texter. She notices a tall woman with an unusual copper-colored complexion approach and is sure this is the person she is supposed to meet. As Nella moves toward the woman, she is distracted by a café owner who draws her in to look at a menu. From the window of the café, Nella can see that the tall woman has a pink scar at the back of her head, similar to that of the woman at Hazel’s event. As Nella leaves the café to meet the woman, she is surprised to see the woman drop her phone in a trash can and prepare to run. Before Nella’s horrified eyes, a car approaches the woman, and a Black woman’s hand yanks her inside. In a flash, the car speeds away.

Analysis

One of the interesting questions chapter 13 raises is why Nella seems oddly passive in the face of the injustice she is clearly being meted out. Not only has Vera lapsed into her former coldness to Nella, the rest of the staff, too, seem to treat her as nonexistent. Worse, Nella forces herself to extinguish her own voice, as is seen in the cover meeting for Needles and Pins. Unlike in her critique of Colin, Nella now gulps back her rage at the derogatory cover image which is chosen for the book. The text suggests Nella is being beaten down into conformity by the forces of racism and patriarchy. The message that the only way to save her career at Wagner is to indulge in the sort of about-face which is Hazel’s modus operandi has sunk deep into Nella’s psyche. Thus, the author expertly deconstructs the covert ways in which dominant ideologies suppress voices of color.

Nella’s passivity is partly inspired by the rollercoaster Wagner is putting her through. When Richard tells Nella that Hazel has informed him about the notes, she does feel anger at the violation of privacy, but Richard distracts her with the prospect of a possible promotion. Richard’s proximity to Hazel, Nella’s own suspicions that Richard may have a mistress who is possibly Black, and Richard’s undue, direct interest in the notes should set alarm bells ringing for Nella. It should be obvious to her that Hazel alone is not responsible for her lot at Wagner. However, Nella is dulled into confusion by Wagner’s carrot-and-stick approach. The mention of Jesse Watson here is significant because it represents the ultimate temptation for Nella, lulling her in a false sense of security. Since Jesse, like Kendra Rae, is a hero for Nella, Jesse’s appearance in the Wagner orbit suggests both Nella’s idol and ideals may be in peril.

Shani’s failed attempt to meet Nella in person heightens the element of horror in the narrative. It also highlights that Lynn is attempting to control Shani in her own way. Lynn’s treatment of Shani is emblematic of the infantilization of women in general and of Black women in particular. Though Lynn’s motives may be sound, her methods rob Shani of choices.