Yellow Wife

Why did Miss Sally teach Pheby to read, write, and play piano? How did her education affect Pheby’s resilience and resistance?

Ruth tells Pheby that she must always be available to white people while remaining invisible. How does this idea resonate within the current social and political climate in the United States and the division of American labor?

How does motherhood make Pheby’s life more complicated? How might her story have been different without children?

Why does Delphina hate Pheby? How is Delphina’s hatred a manifestation of the patriarchal system that oppresses her?

Why does Rubin choose to keep Pheby? In what ways is their relationship complex?

How does Ruth’s wisdom pervade Pheby’s self-worth and decisions? How does Pheby’s ancestry contribute to her strength and resilience?

How does Sadeqa Johnson draw from historical accounts? In what ways does the story of Pheby align or misalign with the story of Mary Lumpkin?

What dangers do Pheby’s daughters face after slavery is abolished? Why does Hester describe the dangers of writing to Pheby?