Religious Transformation
Throughout the collection, characters undergo significant shifts in their religious beliefs and practices. For instance, in "Nikkah," Qadirah's conversion to Islam represents her journey of faith leading her to embrace a more hard-line version of the religion as she connects with a devout man online. In "New Mexico," Calvin's father's conversion to the Nation of Islam during his prison sentence reflects the power of the faith to transform individuals and their families. The religious transformation motif also appears in "Due North" where Taqwa's evolving understanding of her father's faith and her sexuality illustrates how religion can shape one's sense of self and belonging.
Body Washing (Janaza)
Body washing or "janaza," in the collection "Temple Folk" serves as a representation of cultural and religious practices. In the story "Janaza," the main character, Harold, attends the janaza ceremony for Captain Michael 2X, a recently deceased man. The act of washing the deceased's body is a deeply rooted Islamic ritual symbolizing purification and spiritual cleansing, emphasizing the importance of purity and absolution before entering the afterlife. This ritual reveals a connection to faith and cultural traditions that the characters grapple with.
Family and Relationships
The motif of family and relationships emphasizes the characters' intricate connections with their loved ones and the complexities of these bonds. In "Candy for Hanif," Sister Norah's struggle to raise her cognitively disabled son and the tension with her friend, Lunell who suggests Hanif be placed in an in-patient facility exemplifies the challenges and sacrifices involved in caregiving and motherhood. In "Due North," Taqwa's complex relationship with her father, her brother Jabril, and her unacknowledged romantic feelings towards women showcase the intricate dynamics within a family including issues of acceptance and identity. The motif of family and relationships highlights the characters' quests for understanding and connection.
Vegetarian Restaurant
The restaurant symbolizes the characters' disillusionment with religious organizations or leaders who fail to live up to the ideals they preach. In "Who's Down?" a high school sophomore visits a vegetarian restaurant run by Black Hebrews with her father. As she gradually realizes her father's hypocritical stance on various issues, including his dietary choices, the restaurant becomes a symbol of the divergence between outward appearances and inner truths. The restaurant's vegetarian menu in particular represents the ideal of purity and ethical living that the Black Hebrews espouse. However, as the protagonist becomes aware of her father's lack of commitment to these values, the restaurant symbolizes the contrast between the group's professed beliefs and their actual practices.
Racial and Cultural Identity
The motif of racial and cultural identity underscores the characters' multifaceted relationships with their heritage, their sense of self, and their position within their communities. In stories like "Blue," the issue of colorism and racial identity is prominently portrayed as Sister Memphis recalls the pain of being marginalized within her own family due to her darker skin tone. In "Janaza," the conflicts and mixed-race marriage of the characters reflect the challenges of reconciling different cultural backgrounds and the struggle to define one's identity within a society that often imposes racial expectations.
