The Salt Eaters

Content Warning: This novel includes extensive discussions of mental health conditions, especially suicide. This guide refers to, but does not quote, some of the author’s uses of the n-word. The novel also contains references to assault on women, sexual assault, and blackface.

Are you sure, sweetheart, that you want to be well?”

This is the first line of the novel. Minnie says this to Velma as she stalls at the beginning of Velma’s spiritual healing. This quote develops the theme of Personal and Public Health Conditions in the Black Community by bringing up the point that being healthy comes with many responsibilities. Like Velma, the Black community will have to want to heal before it can.

“It takes something out of you, Velma, to keep all them dead moments alive.”

Velma’s husband, Obie, says this to her before her mental health crisis and attempt to die by suicide. Dwelling on past traumas is part of her mental health condition. She will need to look forward to the future instead of dwelling on the past if she is going to heal, and the same is true for the Black community and Black activist groups.

“Dancing in the mud with cowries.”

Minnie says this to her spirit guide, Old Wife. She describes Velma’s mental health condition using the symbol of mud. Mud is associated with being wild and ancient, as opposed to being responsible. It is also associated with birth and creation in African diasporic religions.