Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain descriptions and discussions of racism, race, and Black racial stereotypes.



“But what if I just like to look at you?”

In this quote, Dayton startles Beverly; she senses that she is being watched and discovers that her husband is looking at her, having entered quietly. This exchange conveys their sweet, loving marriage, but her sense that someone is watching her draws attention to the much larger surveillance that is being carried out by the audience.

“She’s family. And family is everything.”

This quote is Beverly’s response to Dayton’s chagrin at the news that she invited her sister. This oft-repeated sentiment of Beverly’s carries the essence of a trite platitude that borders on meaninglessness, but it is also a universally trite statement that generalizes the family onstage, making them relatable to anyone of any race who values family in a similar fashion.

“And I’m exhausted. Now, don’t get me wrong. I can’t wait for college. But my Soul is exhausted. I need some time away so that I might replenish myself and gain valuable life experience if I am to truly flourish in academia.”

Keisha confides in her Aunt Jasmine about her desperate need for a break before college, which her mother, Beverly, fully opposes. Just like much of the other conflict presented in the first act, this small, budding source of conflict is exceedingly minor, particularly when contrasted with the issues introduced by the white characters in the third act. Keisha is smart and accomplished, and her motivations for wanting a gap year are reasonable; however, they are ultimately not enough to constitute drama for the entertainment of