1. I just don’t want him beating on me all the time, I ain’t no dog.
2. You’re a very bright boy, John Grimes.
3. You slap her again, you black bastard, and I swear to God that I’ll kill you.
4. Boy, ain’t it time you was thinking about your soul?
5. Lord, sprinkle the doorpost of this house with the blood of the Lamb to keep all the wicked men away.
6. I hate him! I hate him! Big, black, prancing tomcat of a nigger!
7. Ma, I’m going. I’m a-going this morning.
8. All right, baby. I guess you don’t never want to see me no more, not a miserable black sinner like me.
9. I ain’t the first man been made to fall on account of a wicked woman.
10. I’m going to have my baby and I’m going to bring him up to be a man … . If he don’t drink nothing but moonshine all his natural days he be a better man than his Daddy.
11. Gabriel … that Royal … he were your flesh and blood, weren’t he?
12. I’m ready, I’m coming. I’m on my way.
Answers: (1) [Roy to Elizabeth, about Gabriel.] (2) [The school principal to John, encouraging him.] (3) [Roy to Gabriel, trying to protect Elizabeth.] (4) [Elisha to John, speaking as his friend and spiritual mentor.] (5) [Rachel in a prayer, asking that God keep white men away from their home.] (6) [Florence to Deborah, speaking about her brother, Gabriel] (7) [Florence to Rachel, telling her mother that she is leaving to go North.] (8) [Frank to Florence, when he leaves her.] (9) [Gabriel to Ester, casting the blame for their affair solely on Ester.] (10) [Ester in a letter to Gabriel, about the unborn Royal.] (11) [Deborah to Gabriel, questioning his relationship with Royal.] (12) [John to himself and Gabriel, after John’s religious experience in the church.]
