How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
They say the people could fly. Say that long ago in Africa, some of the people knew magic. (1)
Unfortunately, this illustrious past has been thoroughly washed away, and now these magical humans are forced to play the role of ordinary people. In fact, it's been so long that they've forgotten that they're just pretending.
Quote #2
The folks were full of misery, then. […] So they forgot about flyin when they could no longer breathe the sweet scent of Africa. (3)
The people's magical power of flight is linked to their homeland in Africa. This reflects the community's desire to reclaim something of a past that was erased by slavery. Without that past, they're missing a really important part of their cultural identity.
Quote #3
Say the people who could fly kept their power […] They kept their secret magic in the land of slavery. (4)
Despite their imprisonment, there are some who still remember their abilities and are just waiting for an opportunity to unleash them. Unfortunately, there are many who have forgotten altogether.
Quote #4
"Yes, Daughter, the time is come," Toby answered. "Go, as you know how to go!" (17)
Luckily, good old Toby hasn't forgotten a thing. Throughout the story, Toby is portrayed as a strong leader, capable of reminding people of the beauty that's always been inside them
Quote #5
She flew clumsily at first, with the child now held tightly in her arms. Then she felt the magic, the African mystery. (19)
Sarah is only able to fly after reconnecting with her past. Again, this emphasizes how slaves were denied access to their cultural history and implies that this was done to prevent them from realizing their true power.
Quote #6
Toby come over and spoke words to the fallen one. The words of ancient Africa once heard are never remembered completely. (21)
It's interesting that only Toby can remember the magic words of "ancient Africa." What makes him different than the others? Could it be that he's the only one who never forgot in the first place? Regardless, Toby is a portrayed as a good leader because he keeps tradition alive.
Quote #7
"Hee, hee! Don't you know who I am? Don't you know some of us in this field?" He said it to their faces. "We are the ones who fly!" (25)
The Master and his buddies have tried to convince the people that they are slaves, not people… so it must be a real shocker to realize that they're superhuman. No matter how much abuse has been thrown his way, though, for his part, Toby has never forgotten this fact.
Quote #8
So they say. The Overseer told it. The one called Master said it was a lie, a trick of the light. The Driver kept his mouth shut. (31)
Some people just can't accept reality. The Master can't possibly trust his memory of the encounter—if he did, then he'd be forced to admit that he's an awful human being. It's much easier for him to create a new explanation that fits his own narrow reality.
Quote #9
When they sat close before the fire in the free land, they told it. They did so love firelight and Free-dom and tellin. (32)
The slaves who can't fly will never forget what they witness this day. Their memories of the events helps sustain them, at least until they're able to make it to the free land (up North, presumably) themselves.
Quote #10
They say that the children of the ones who could not fly told their children. And now, me, I have told it to you. (33)
Like most folk tales, "The People Could Fly" was originally told orally from person to person, rather than being written down. As such, it is meant to describe the feelings of certain historical realities than the specific events.