How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Soon after Abby began to take her first steps, Mother Barker took her walking in the country through pastures of unfenced fields. She took Abyssinia on nature walks, hunting certain roots and leaves and specific barks on trees. She would spy a plant and say, "Abby, pull that root up." (7.3)
Mother Barker is Abyssinia's life-long teacher. When Abby's just a little girl, Mother Barker begins teaching her about the healing powers of plants, familiarizing her with what ultimately becomes Abby's life's work.
Quote #2
Sister Lightsey reached up and pulled a limb off the tree. Then she pulled another one down and began to braid the switch.
Abby backed away.
"Don't you run from me. You know if you run, you get two whippings." (6.53-55)
Sometimes you learn by reading books… and sometimes you learn by Sister Lightsey chasing you around her yard with a switch. To be fair, we're pretty sure Abby's been told before that she shouldn't hop into other people's gardens for a snack.
Quote #3
Abby scanned the newspaper for events that might be interesting to the older woman. "Mother Barker, it says here that over in Ardmore the police shot another black man. Name of Teddy Walker." (6.80)
Abby often reads the Black Dispatch to Mother Barker. Not to blow your mind or anything, but one upon a time there wasn't the Internet and people got their information primarily from these wackadoodle things called newspapers. Which leaves us with one question: Why do you think Abby reads the newspaper to Mother Barker? We're thinking it's because she can't read, and yet she's clearly learned a whole lot in her day. Education comes in all forms, yo.