In terms of hierarchy, Wilson portrays the typical black woman—black man—white woman—white man ranking as the result of these stereotypes, to the point where no one can rise up, but everyone can certainly lower down their position. “She thought she could ascend to him and become an equal,” (5) speaking of Mag, when in reality, she had “descended another step down the ladder of infamy” (9). We will immediately hold this in contrast to the description of Frado in the final chapter, where “nothing turns her from the steadfast purpose of elevating herself” (65). What is to be said for this contradiction? Having developed the rule of the hierarchy to be no movement upward, it becomes ironic that Frado herself desires to climb it. It’s evident that