How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The snappy Negro lady had been nice enough to smile but hadn't returned the look that Big Ma expected—and Big Ma had expected the look Negro people silently pass each other. She'd expected this stranger to say, as if she were a neighbor, "They're as good as my own. I'll make sure they don't misbehave or be an embarrassment to the Negro race." (1.23)
Big Ma automatically assumes that the other black lady on the plane is her ally. This is partly about race, but it's more about the sense of kinship she expects from people who have something in common with her. Delphine knows her grandma would be crushed if the lady didn't see this whole community-of-friends thing the same way, so she doesn't mention it when the woman just forgets about them.
Quote #2
Instead of going to the first cab in the line, Cecile ducked her head and searched every other cab. (3.41)
Cecile is looking for a cab driver with a black beret. That's how she'll know that he's a Black Panther, a.k.a. one of her buddies. Delphine doesn't really understand this… yet.
Quote #3
Then each of them firing off:
"The people..."
"The people..."
"The people..."
Against her:
"My art."
"My work."
"My time. My materials. My printing press."
"Me. My. No. No." (7.14-22)
It turns out Cecile isn't interested in helping out the Black Power movement with her printing press. Sure, she'll make a donation, and she'll write poetry and support the black berets all day long. But there are some things she's not willing to part with, and one of those things is her printing press.