ABSTRACT
Mohr traces the refraction of cultural myths related to home and mobility in two stories focusing on the experiences of black women. In “A Crippled Hope,” little Mammy tends to slaves kept in a holding pen before they are sold and then, after her own emancipation, becomes a caretaker to a white woman. In “The Little Convent Girl,” a young biracial woman briefly reunites with her African American mother in New Orleans; the tragic ending leads to a reflection on identity and community. A close reading reveals the significance of the silences in these stories.
