@stephsappleorchard.bsky.social
Maybe if his purpose would’ve been geared towards learning about his family from the start, he would’ve been more self aware of how his inconsiderate actions to drop by homes and expect an open door made ppl treat him differently. He felt like he had righteous ownership over a home that wasn’t his
November 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Maybe if his purpose would’ve been geared towards learning about his family from the start, he would’ve been more self aware of how his inconsiderate actions to drop by homes and expect an open door made ppl treat him differently. He felt like he had righteous ownership over a home that wasn’t his
Racism in the South especially as a lighter skinned man inherently made him more powerful and assertive than back in Ohio. Naturally people may have been more inclined to help him out which is rooted in classism and racism, granted it made it harder to him to be more receptive to ppls circumstance
November 5, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Racism in the South especially as a lighter skinned man inherently made him more powerful and assertive than back in Ohio. Naturally people may have been more inclined to help him out which is rooted in classism and racism, granted it made it harder to him to be more receptive to ppls circumstance
“I really do thank you.” Milkman opened the door. “What do I owe you? For the coke and all?”
“The man was smiling, but his face changed now. “My names Garnett. I ain’t got much, but can afford a coke and a lift now and then.” P. 255
“The man was smiling, but his face changed now. “My names Garnett. I ain’t got much, but can afford a coke and a lift now and then.” P. 255
November 5, 2025 at 9:40 PM
“I really do thank you.” Milkman opened the door. “What do I owe you? For the coke and all?”
“The man was smiling, but his face changed now. “My names Garnett. I ain’t got much, but can afford a coke and a lift now and then.” P. 255
“The man was smiling, but his face changed now. “My names Garnett. I ain’t got much, but can afford a coke and a lift now and then.” P. 255
Milkman felt superior to the ppl living in Shalimaar and Danville. Thinking favors had to be paid for bc he had money but really they were just good ppl giving a hand out to each other bc ppl couldn’t afford to pay each other
November 5, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Milkman felt superior to the ppl living in Shalimaar and Danville. Thinking favors had to be paid for bc he had money but really they were just good ppl giving a hand out to each other bc ppl couldn’t afford to pay each other
When Circe was explaining to him how she worked her whole, he failed to realize he never HAD to work to life. P. 247
Some ppl would rather die than lift a finger to work which is lowkey how milkman lived. He thought Circe loved the butlers, but she needed the job to survive @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Some ppl would rather die than lift a finger to work which is lowkey how milkman lived. He thought Circe loved the butlers, but she needed the job to survive @vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:37 PM
When Circe was explaining to him how she worked her whole, he failed to realize he never HAD to work to life. P. 247
Some ppl would rather die than lift a finger to work which is lowkey how milkman lived. He thought Circe loved the butlers, but she needed the job to survive @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Some ppl would rather die than lift a finger to work which is lowkey how milkman lived. He thought Circe loved the butlers, but she needed the job to survive @vdotfdot.bsky.social
The way people treat him changed in shalimaar where he wasn’t flexing his wealth bc the community probably resents him. Like goodie old two shoes doesn’t know how hard life is in the south bc he grew up north treating it like a vacation while people are struggling to survive @vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The way people treat him changed in shalimaar where he wasn’t flexing his wealth bc the community probably resents him. Like goodie old two shoes doesn’t know how hard life is in the south bc he grew up north treating it like a vacation while people are struggling to survive @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Milkman’s privilege continued:
Blind as to why people even leave the south. He feels seen and like a hero??? He’s so self absorbed with his inflated ego he forgets about why his father left in the first place—why his father’s father left with sing to the North. @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Blind as to why people even leave the south. He feels seen and like a hero??? He’s so self absorbed with his inflated ego he forgets about why his father left in the first place—why his father’s father left with sing to the North. @vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Milkman’s privilege continued:
Blind as to why people even leave the south. He feels seen and like a hero??? He’s so self absorbed with his inflated ego he forgets about why his father left in the first place—why his father’s father left with sing to the North. @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Blind as to why people even leave the south. He feels seen and like a hero??? He’s so self absorbed with his inflated ego he forgets about why his father left in the first place—why his father’s father left with sing to the North. @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Racism makes it harder for ppl to attach themselves. Guitar losing his parents = not wanting to pursue a relationship. Coping w/ the loss of loved ones is hard, so I understand the cold bitterness of Macon (losing both parents), even with Pilate. Milkman = attachment issues
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Racism makes it harder for ppl to attach themselves. Guitar losing his parents = not wanting to pursue a relationship. Coping w/ the loss of loved ones is hard, so I understand the cold bitterness of Macon (losing both parents), even with Pilate. Milkman = attachment issues
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
Milkmans doesn’t find his purpose in life, there’s nothing keeping him going (p. 179), gold is just a means of leaving Ohio. Guitar has a fire to avenge his community, and when it came to gold he thought of the ppl who raised him (gratitude)
money = leisure and mobility
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
money = leisure and mobility
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Milkmans doesn’t find his purpose in life, there’s nothing keeping him going (p. 179), gold is just a means of leaving Ohio. Guitar has a fire to avenge his community, and when it came to gold he thought of the ppl who raised him (gratitude)
money = leisure and mobility
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
money = leisure and mobility
@vdotfdot.bsky.social
Milkman’s privilege as a result of his father’s wealth strains his relationship w/ Guitar as he is unable to reason w/ the fact Guitar is poor. Milkman dips on his family on a journey of self discovery fueled by finding gold 🤨 like a teen boy on a treasure hunt 💸 @vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Milkman’s privilege as a result of his father’s wealth strains his relationship w/ Guitar as he is unable to reason w/ the fact Guitar is poor. Milkman dips on his family on a journey of self discovery fueled by finding gold 🤨 like a teen boy on a treasure hunt 💸 @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Racism weakens bonds b/w Milkman & ppl bc empathy is an emotion that is never taught, making him blind to their needs:
- milkman has never asked if his sisters needed anything p.215
- guitar said he never lifted a finger p. 296
- “he didn’t concern himself an awful lot abt others”
- drunk self p.211
- milkman has never asked if his sisters needed anything p.215
- guitar said he never lifted a finger p. 296
- “he didn’t concern himself an awful lot abt others”
- drunk self p.211
November 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Racism weakens bonds b/w Milkman & ppl bc empathy is an emotion that is never taught, making him blind to their needs:
- milkman has never asked if his sisters needed anything p.215
- guitar said he never lifted a finger p. 296
- “he didn’t concern himself an awful lot abt others”
- drunk self p.211
- milkman has never asked if his sisters needed anything p.215
- guitar said he never lifted a finger p. 296
- “he didn’t concern himself an awful lot abt others”
- drunk self p.211
Materialism in Milkman = lust over love w/ women. Worth his attention if they can do something for him. Women = objects of love
- wanting to hook up w/ women in Shalimaar gets himwhooped.
- Sweet is bathing him = imagining how good she is at sex
- ignoring grace’s presence
- weak sibling bond
- wanting to hook up w/ women in Shalimaar gets himwhooped.
- Sweet is bathing him = imagining how good she is at sex
- ignoring grace’s presence
- weak sibling bond
November 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Materialism in Milkman = lust over love w/ women. Worth his attention if they can do something for him. Women = objects of love
- wanting to hook up w/ women in Shalimaar gets himwhooped.
- Sweet is bathing him = imagining how good she is at sex
- ignoring grace’s presence
- weak sibling bond
- wanting to hook up w/ women in Shalimaar gets himwhooped.
- Sweet is bathing him = imagining how good she is at sex
- ignoring grace’s presence
- weak sibling bond
Lack of autonomy over your body = greed & materialism. Hagar wants to own things to feel pretty [shopping, pressing her hair p. 313], desire to own Milkman to feel loved [p. 306]. Macon I wants to own land = viewing his children & wife as trophies ≠ emotional vulnerability @vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Lack of autonomy over your body = greed & materialism. Hagar wants to own things to feel pretty [shopping, pressing her hair p. 313], desire to own Milkman to feel loved [p. 306]. Macon I wants to own land = viewing his children & wife as trophies ≠ emotional vulnerability @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Lack of connection to family is formed through assimilation: last names bare the weight of colonialism. Bird -> Byrd (indigenous blood is lost) Dead -> never having autonomy over your own body/self. Milkman on his woke journey = privilege that strains his friendship w Guitar @vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Lack of connection to family is formed through assimilation: last names bare the weight of colonialism. Bird -> Byrd (indigenous blood is lost) Dead -> never having autonomy over your own body/self. Milkman on his woke journey = privilege that strains his friendship w Guitar @vdotfdot.bsky.social
As a result of Solomon fleeing & Reyna dying, their children must be independent. Racism fuels Jake to “succeed” or “own things” which gets him killed, Macon loses his father. As a result of ppl “making out” they’re targeted, and the cycle repeats until milkman breaks it @vdotfdot.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 PM
As a result of Solomon fleeing & Reyna dying, their children must be independent. Racism fuels Jake to “succeed” or “own things” which gets him killed, Macon loses his father. As a result of ppl “making out” they’re targeted, and the cycle repeats until milkman breaks it @vdotfdot.bsky.social
Solomon left his family (what we would label selfish decision) to live out a life of freedom & cultural connection. The people he loves: his wife falls into a deep state of depression, his children (Jake) are left to fend for themselves in the harshness of slavery. Flying = selfishness ?
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Solomon left his family (what we would label selfish decision) to live out a life of freedom & cultural connection. The people he loves: his wife falls into a deep state of depression, his children (Jake) are left to fend for themselves in the harshness of slavery. Flying = selfishness ?
They found sanction & security in each other, so much so Nel start embracing her creole identity and start dreading straightening her hair to her mothers wishes and pulling her nose. Nonetheless colorist damage persists when she strips a twig down to a “smooth, creamy innocence”.
October 9, 2025 at 1:52 AM
They found sanction & security in each other, so much so Nel start embracing her creole identity and start dreading straightening her hair to her mothers wishes and pulling her nose. Nonetheless colorist damage persists when she strips a twig down to a “smooth, creamy innocence”.
I really love Morrison’s description of Sula & Nel’s complimentary friendship:
- Nel = color of wet sandpaper, just enough to escape the blows, if she’d been lighter it would’ve been dangerous for her in the Medallion
- Sula = heavy brown gold flecked eyes, large quiet eyes, rose birthmark
- Nel = color of wet sandpaper, just enough to escape the blows, if she’d been lighter it would’ve been dangerous for her in the Medallion
- Sula = heavy brown gold flecked eyes, large quiet eyes, rose birthmark
October 9, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I really love Morrison’s description of Sula & Nel’s complimentary friendship:
- Nel = color of wet sandpaper, just enough to escape the blows, if she’d been lighter it would’ve been dangerous for her in the Medallion
- Sula = heavy brown gold flecked eyes, large quiet eyes, rose birthmark
- Nel = color of wet sandpaper, just enough to escape the blows, if she’d been lighter it would’ve been dangerous for her in the Medallion
- Sula = heavy brown gold flecked eyes, large quiet eyes, rose birthmark
Helene's assimilation into white culture in black community:
- joining the black conservative church (marker of assimilation into white Protestant Christianity), she was raised strictly Catholic
- "I don't speak creole, and neither does she" rejecting any ties to her and Nel's African identity
- joining the black conservative church (marker of assimilation into white Protestant Christianity), she was raised strictly Catholic
- "I don't speak creole, and neither does she" rejecting any ties to her and Nel's African identity
October 9, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Helene's assimilation into white culture in black community:
- joining the black conservative church (marker of assimilation into white Protestant Christianity), she was raised strictly Catholic
- "I don't speak creole, and neither does she" rejecting any ties to her and Nel's African identity
- joining the black conservative church (marker of assimilation into white Protestant Christianity), she was raised strictly Catholic
- "I don't speak creole, and neither does she" rejecting any ties to her and Nel's African identity
“For heterosexual African American men, choosing to love and commit to a heterosexual relationship with a Black woman is a rebellious act” Patricia Hill Collins, Dark Skinned Love
October 9, 2025 at 1:36 AM
“For heterosexual African American men, choosing to love and commit to a heterosexual relationship with a Black woman is a rebellious act” Patricia Hill Collins, Dark Skinned Love
Tar Baby/Pretty Johnnie:
He’s described as mixed and beautiful (implying the lighter = the more beautiful), but he isn’t mixed (according to Eva). No one finds him a nuisance despite his poor lifestyle, does his skin color excuse his behavior and grant him more empathy from his community? Perhaps
He’s described as mixed and beautiful (implying the lighter = the more beautiful), but he isn’t mixed (according to Eva). No one finds him a nuisance despite his poor lifestyle, does his skin color excuse his behavior and grant him more empathy from his community? Perhaps
October 9, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Tar Baby/Pretty Johnnie:
He’s described as mixed and beautiful (implying the lighter = the more beautiful), but he isn’t mixed (according to Eva). No one finds him a nuisance despite his poor lifestyle, does his skin color excuse his behavior and grant him more empathy from his community? Perhaps
He’s described as mixed and beautiful (implying the lighter = the more beautiful), but he isn’t mixed (according to Eva). No one finds him a nuisance despite his poor lifestyle, does his skin color excuse his behavior and grant him more empathy from his community? Perhaps
Helene further controls Nel’s social circle when they meet the Peace’s who are everything Helene’s family isn’t, Nel finds comfort in the disorder. Helene describes the Peace family as “sooty” = dirty, outcasts, corrupt. Nel pushes past Helene’s beliefs and befriend Sula
October 9, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Helene further controls Nel’s social circle when they meet the Peace’s who are everything Helene’s family isn’t, Nel finds comfort in the disorder. Helene describes the Peace family as “sooty” = dirty, outcasts, corrupt. Nel pushes past Helene’s beliefs and befriend Sula
Nel is blind to privilege w/ being lighter & and failed to realize that these colored soldiers would’ve faced consequences (possibly death) for walking into a white cart instead of a colored cart. So the soldiers not helping Helene wasn’t out of jealousy, but resentment and possibly even fear.
October 9, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Nel is blind to privilege w/ being lighter & and failed to realize that these colored soldiers would’ve faced consequences (possibly death) for walking into a white cart instead of a colored cart. So the soldiers not helping Helene wasn’t out of jealousy, but resentment and possibly even fear.