probablythe result of ritual scarification, an African tribe thatrecognizes an persons transition into adulthood with a visiblesign that they belong to a particular tribe. When Maam waslynched and burned, her body is too badly damaged that he markdoes not show. Symbolically, slavery has wiped out Africanidentity. Another critical part of identity is language, and theAfrican language has also been taken away from the slaves. Setheeventually recalls Nans stories of Maam....
