Lesson: Sweetness, Author: Tony Morrison

Lula Ann is Sweetness's daughter. Born to light-skinned parents, Lula Ann's skin is unexpectedly dark, described by Sweetness as "Sudanese black" and "blue-black." Sweetness raises Lula Ann to keep her head down because of her dark skin, but Lula Ann rebels as a teenager, talking back to her mother. Lula Ann grows up to pursue a career in California and becomes pregnant. Sweetness comments on how Lula Ann shows off her dark skin to her advantage by wearing beautiful white clothes. She rarely visits Sweetness, but sends money to help pay for the modest but adequate nursing home where Sweetness lives in her old age.