Helga encounters racism when meeting Peter's new wife. Again is Helga given the notion that the black blood in her makes her an improper relative to have around. She is even so unimportant, that it is possible to forget about her "for a moment- (61). Interesting is her new aunt's conclusion, that just because Helga's parents were probably not married it would not be appropriate or even possible for her to claim any relation to Peter. Nor notion is given of how ridiculous this assertion is, after all is Peter her mother's brother and therefore definitely related to Helga. .
After that has Helga a very hard timing finding a job and getting along. Her luck seems to return when she lands a temporary position as a travelling companion for Mrs. Hayes-Rore. The idea of staying in New York gives Helga the hope that she can create a new life for herself. "She began happily paint the future in vivid colors. The world had changed to silver, and life ceased to be a struggle and became a gay adventure."" (68) Mrs. Hayes-Rore is "a prominent "race- woman, who is about to present her ideas "before several meetings (.) of the Negro Women's League of Clubs."" Although she claims to be "an authority on racial issues and the advancement of African-Americans, is she contradicting herself with her appearance. Mr. Hayes-Rore has "badly straightened hair-. In trying to copy white women's beauty ideal was she oppressing her natural curly hair, a feature of her racial affiliation. Helga and the reader are presented with another African-American demanding others to feel pride for their race, while orienting herself on the white society. Another thing she shares with them, is the determination to hush up the existence of black and white relationships. Although Mrs. Hayes-Rore is curious to hear Helga's story, it becomes clear that dealing as it did with race intermingling and possibly adultery, was beyond definite discussion.