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A tradition in Black fiction--echoing throughout the canon--is the common casting of ordinary women into roles as secondary characters who explain their daily experiences through spontaneous, daily singing. This singing is rendered as a musical culture for women to define and express their politics and personal feelings. Attention is paid to these minor characters on the basis that this phenomenon of female singing in fact and fiction changes the way we read and understand Black women.

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Patrina C.Jones (Dr. P) holds a Ph.D. in English from Stony Brook University. She is a Grenada born, Brooklyn-based writer. Her writings give voice to the perspectives and customs of Black women.

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