Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

Content Warning: This section includes references to racism, sexism, physical assault, murder, rape, and racially motivated hate crimes.

“Half of the work that is done in the world is to make things appear what they are not.”

The book’s Epigraph alludes most literally to Kitty passing as white. However, the Epigraph is also a nod to the book’s theme of structural racism, much of which relies on making things that are racist seem perfectly normal. By normalizing discriminatory words or actions, racist systems can flourish.

“Why had the White Hollywood icon given her fortune to the Black (‘Black’ being the key word) daughters of her costar in a sitcom that first aired almost fifty years ago? Some came right out and asked it, and social media was a cauldron of racist epithets; it was Meghan Markle hysteria times three.”

This passage sets up the central premise of the plot. It also highlights the book’s thematic treatment of racism, particularly the implicit nature of structural racism. The allusion to Meghan Markle provides an example of how racist systems expect Black people to behave in certain ways; if they do not, they may face public ire. In Meghan Markle’s case, she drew scrutiny as a Black woman for marrying a white member of the British royal family.

“Now people from Montana to Rhode Island know you’re Black.”

Elise’s sister says this to her in a joking way, but it highlights the book’s argument that racist systems demand that Black people disavow their own race. In Kitty’s case, this means actually passing as white. In Elise’s case, it means taking steps like straightening her hair and not posting #blacklivesmatter content.