Queenie, who is white, has understood herself to be different from those in her conservative community but has not considered how far out of step she was with the rest of society. Although she understands that racism exists, she sees it as less prevalent and less dangerous than it really is. This short-sightedness allows her to open her home to black boarders without realizing how much others will object. Similarly, after she has an affair with a black man, she seems unprepared for the challenge of raising a multiracial child. Finally, she admits to the prevalence of racism and decides to give up her baby.
Hortense, who is black, moved from Jamaica to England; she has a broader perspective on discrimination. At home, she had been favored for having lighter skin than other blacks, but this does not help her in England. She must come to terms with the systemic prejudice that blocks her from teaching. Although Hortense remains ignorant that Michael was Queenie’s baby’s father, she accepts that Queenie cannot raise her own child, and she and Gilbert accept responsibility to raise a child who is not their own. In this way, she both accepts the racism around her and hopes to shield a child from it.
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