Peach Parfait

The peach parfait that Avey has for dessert on pages 49-50 signifies over consumption. Avey has literally made herself sick by over consuming. The construction of the parfait signifies Avey. The layers of peaches and cream are a beige color and there are only a few dark sprinkles at the top. The chocolate sprinkles are the “token blackness,” and this little bit of black is smothered by everything else. This is like Avey, who has smothered herself in whiteness leaving only a few bits of her black heritage sprinkled about. Avey tries to giver herself a peaches and cream appearance. She is a southern black woman literally drowning herself in whiteness and homogeneity. Peaches are also the official fruit of Georgia, which is in the South, while the whipped cream is a dairy which comes from Wisconsin, which is in the North. By the white cream covering the peaches it is symbolic of the North culture taking over her southern culture. During this meal Avey cannot eat her dessert. She realizes she has over saturated herself and the thought makes her sick in side.
Jessica von Fremd