Recitatif

Mary is the mother of Twyla, and we meet her on a Sunday in church. She is pretty, which Twyla is proud of, but Twyla is embarrassed by her mother's tight slacks and ratty fur jacket that she chooses to wear on her visit. Twyla says her mother "dances," which is why she neglects her daughter. She tells Roberta that her mother never did stop dancing.

Her name not specifically given, Roberta's mother is, obviously, the mother of Roberta. We meet her on Sunday when she, her daughter, Twyla, and Twyla's mother are at church. She refuses to shake hands with Mary, Twyla's mother, just because they are of different races. She is very religious and wears a large cross. Roberta describes her as not being well, and tells Twyla that she never does get well; it is alluded to that she has some mental difficulties.