The Other Side of Truth

The children begin writing. Sade hears children whispering that she is spelling her name wrong, and one says, “Don’t need to spell in the bush!” (119). Mr. Morris stops two girls, Marcia and Donna, from talking, and they ask him why Sade does not have a long name like other people from Africa do and what her name means. The teacher assigns them to write about a place that is special to them and to use sensory details, and Marcia says that is disgusting because her favorite place is in Jamaica at her grandmother’s, and she has bad-smelling cows. Afterward, Donna asks Sade her name again and where she is from. When Sade answers, she asks her why she speaks English if she is from Nigeria, and Sade explains that they have numerous languages. Marcia tells her not to show off and then asks whether her mother in Africa taught her manners. Marcia tells Sade that she is not allowed to do her English homework. Mariam tells Sade that Marcia does not like Africans.

Femi is watching television and does not answer when Sade calls him. The color in the King home “defied the grayness outside” (126).