The symbolic street of Harlem
The titular Street is not located in just any neighborhood. Because of the setting, we know Lutie's life is categorically defined by racism, since America in the 1940's was not exactly racially reconciled. Her life is difficult because of the systemic issues that define it. She has to work, which leaves her little son available to manipulation and coercion, and she works very hard for rent she can barely afford as it is, (because she is not paid well). She is surrounded by criminals and sexual predators, but she literally has to defend herself by force—the police don't investigate crimes well at all in these Black neighborhoods.
The motif of rape
This book portrays rape attempts on multiple occasions, and from the moment Lutie meets Jones, she realizes that this could be how he treats her—he seems from his personality not to give respect to women, but he also seems desperately in love with her. Sure enough, after failed passes at her, he attacks her to rape her, but she is saved. When someone else tries it later, she realizes, Junto was probably going to try it too.
The symbolic abduction of Bub
Bub is scared of the dark. There is good reason for this in a neighborhood like Harlem. Instead of the community helping her take care of him, Jones tricks the boy into committing crimes, and he is taken from him. She tries to hire a lawyer, but it is clear the lawyer is extorting her, exploiting her in a moment of need. This represents the actual damage the community is causing.
Mrs. Hedges
Mrs. Hedges is like a "tax collector" so to speak. As a woman, she helps men exploit women by matchmaking as a madame of a house of prostitution. It is clear she has full-blown plans and intentions when Lutie moves in, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, with no real insight for how to survive in Harlem. She represents the opposite of Lutie's innocence.
Jones as a patriarchy
Instead of saying, "Jones represents the patriarchy," (which he does), we can be more specific: Jones represents the way patriarchy can be used against women and children by men who have not worked through their emotional adjustment. Also, he attempts to rape her, showing that his service (bodily safety) has been ironically flipped upside down—he is an agent of harm. He represents the opposite of a husband to Lutie.
