Stairwell
We see Sharonda behind the staircase. Alike tells her sister to go upstairs and lock the door. The imagery represents the fact that Alike is protecting her sister, and is willing to face harm in order to do so. Moreover, we see it happen as Audrey strikes her daughter when she tells her she is a lesbian.
Trash Cans
After Bina rejects Alike, we see Alike toss trash cans on the street and eventually tear her room apart. The camera is handheld and frantic, and the imagery represents the chaos inside of her manifesting itself in her life.
Red
We see Alike and her sister bathed in red light after 3:00 am, while their parents have a fight downstairs. The lighting represents how Alike feels pressed down by her inability to express herself the way she desires. With her sister's entrance, it represents the pain they feel from the chaos between their parents.
Focus
We see Alike and Laura in focus in close ups after they spend the night at a club. They are seen in focus with their surroundings completely out of focus behind them. The imagery reveals to us that these two young ladies are disconnected from the world around them.
