Skin color (Symbol)
Skin color in prejudicial societies is a symbol of a distinction between people, their statuses, backgrounds and possibilities. The characters of the novel always pay attention to other people’s skin. It is rather important whether you are “black, brown, yellow,” or “white.” “Black Harlem,” “white folks,” “yallah women,” it seems that the majority of them sees only a color. They are so focused on noticing their distinctions that they fail to notice how much they are alike, how equally prejudiced they are against each other.
The Knights of Nordica (Allegory)
The Knight of Nordica is allegory of ignorance. These people are constantly on alert, for supposedly “the Caucasian race is being threatened.” They are just “ignorant” people who like blaming others for their misfortunes. It is no wonder that they are being used by their leaders. More often than not they are just being tricked. For instance, Matthew uses their fears to convince them of necessity of donating their money to their organization. He links up “the Pope, the Yellow Peril, the Alien Invasion and Foreign Entanglements with Black-No-More as devices of the Devil.” As soon as he convinces them that the whole world is against them, he can make them do whatever he wants. They stop thinking critically.
Losing and finding one’s true identity (Motif)
Max and many other black people who decide to “whiten themselves” realize that white skin is not a guarantee of happiness, success, or respect. He learns that his previous life used to be not that bad, he starts missing almost “European” atmosphere of Harlem. Max is sick and tired with “this life of pretense.” He wants his wife to accept him, his ancestors, his history and build a new life with him. As soon as he tells Helen the truth, he feels how “a great load lifting from his soul.” It feels nice to be free and frank.
