Black Star

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, including racist violence. 

Back in Africa, Nana Kofi had a cousin who teased and tormented him. His best friend, Ebo, challenged his cousin to a swimming race with Nana. Ebo believed in Nana’s skills and thought that he could finally put his cousin in his place and win Ama’s heart.

When Nana was practicing his swimming one night with Kwasi, he came back to the banks to find Kwasi gone. He didn’t know it yet, but he had entered a door of no return.

Charley asks about the meaning of his story, such as if the door was real. Momma interrupts them to go to bed. Nana coughs, and Momma warns him to stop smoking from his pipe.

Charley walks through a garden in her dream. The garden turns to a sea filled with yams. She must eat them all or else she’ll suffocate. Charley can’t breathe. She coughs and clutches for air.