Her inclusion of black male characters that are predominantly violent, controlling, and emotionally withholding is of no accident, and it is these male characters that perpetuate the broken spirits of the black women that come to call Brewster Place home. ... She reflects on Sammy and Maybelline's father: "A pot of burnt rice would mean a fractured jaw, or a wet bathroom floor a loose tooth, but that had been their fault for keeping her so tied up she couldn't keep the house straight. ...

• Word Count: 1754
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School