The symbolism of hope
Besides being an activist, Du Bois is depicted as an emblem of hope that most African Americans looked to for bravery and distinctiveness. According to Du Bois, Africans can exploit their potential given equal opportunities as their white counterparts. The assumption that a black person is inferior is a white man's assumption and tactic of making Africans feel that they are useless.
Pinchard as a symbol of brutality
The author uses Pinchard figuratively to represent brutality and immorality. Pinchard takes Micco’s plantation by force and converts people around him into enslaved people. Additionally, Pinchard is a sexual molester because he purchases young African women to abuse them sexually to satisfy his ego.
The Left Cabin as a symbol of torture
The 'Left Cabin' symbolizes the torture and misery that enslaved people go through at the hands of their masters. Pinchard uses the 'Left Cabin' as a special room where he sexually abuses young African women without their consent. Ailey discovers the dark secrets of the 'Left Cabin', and it is revealed that Rabbit and Leena were the victims who died during the fire incident in the cabin.
Ailey as a symbol of the wounds of slavery
Ailey symbolizes the wounds of slavery in the contemporary world. Ailey is a descendant of Aggie in the modern world, but she still remembers the evils of slavery. Ailey recalls her several visits to Virginia to see her grandmother working as an enslaved person in Pinchard's plantation. Ailey also remembers how she was sexually abused alongside her sister. Therefore, Ailey’s memories of Pinchard’s plantation in Georgia symbolize the wounds of slavery.
