A Thousand Never Evers

“Today white magnolia petals litter the path. Springtime fills up my lungs. I see one blossom still on the branch. Through that flower, Old Man Adams sends me a message: life keeps blooming, things keep on.”

This metaphor—comparing life’s resilience to the resilience of the last bud on a tree—also becomes a metaphor for Addie Ann’s family and their resilience in the text. Even after her father is killed, her brother is chased from town, and her home is burned down, they still fight for Uncle Bump’s freedom and the larger goal of equality.

“I want to yell what I know is true: This land, it’s ours too! But the words are stuck inside me. I’m afraid we’re all going to die. And I wonder if it’s worth it, for the land.”

These thoughts from Addie Ann are a reaction to the inciting incident of the novel: the moment when the mayor and sheriff refuse to listen to Adams’s will and give the garden to the entire community. Her thoughts of whether the fight for the garden is “worth it” lead to an important question throughout the novel: When is the risk of death worth standing up for what is right?

“And while we cross the railroad, I imagine the tracks turn upright like jailhouse bars and lock us on the Negro side of town.”

This simile compares the tracks that separate the white side of Kuckachoo from the Black side to the bars of a jail cell. They physically divide the town—separating the Black side from the electricity, stores, schools, and better homes of the white side—while also representing the metaphorical things that trap them, like racism, Jim Crow laws, and Institutionalized Racism as a Tool for Oppression.

“Then again, I almost didn’t go to tonight’s civil rights meeting either. That’s because I didn’t want to go. But a few days ago, when Mama said I couldn’t go, something inside me switched and I needed to go real bad.”

This quote reflects Addie Ann’s maturity at the beginning of the text. She has little interest in the larger world, as she believes that inequality has no impact on her. Her motivation for wanting to go to the meeting at the start of the text was simply that she was not allowed to go.

“‘Well’—Mrs. Tate looks up at Mama—‘My husband says you people don’t think you’re treated right. He says you’re holding some sort of meeting tonight so you can fuss ‘bout the voter-registration rules.’”

Similar to the way that the lawyer is viewed by Addie Ann, Mrs. Tate also does her best to ignore the mistreatment of Black people in their town. Although she does not directly mistreat Addie Ann or Mama while they work for her, she is racially insensitive at several points in the text, revealing how she is also a cause of injustice. However, this quote hints at her change in the novel, as she clearly shows concern for the Black people of the community and their happiness. Ultimately, she acts on her feelings, testifying against her husband and helping to reveal the truth about the garden’s destruction.

“It’s like when the wind blows hard and all the milkweed sways in one direction. Or when a bird in the sky changes course and hundreds of birds in the flock behind make the same shift. That man, Mr. Tubbs, he’s like the wind or lead bird.”

This simile compares Mr. Tubbs—the representative from the NAACP who speaks to the Black church about the civil rights movement—to the wind or a lead bird in a flock. He influences the people around them and attempts to lead them into the fight for equality, making it clear that it will take Community Support Against Injustice to bring true change.

“The sheriff kicks my television. Hard. The glass screen shatters to bits, and the sheriff and Buck bust their sides laughing.”

The destruction of Addie Ann’s television is symbolic of the destruction of her childhood and innocence. Up to this point, she was largely excluded from the issues of inequality in her town, with her immaturity leaving her ignorant of them and her family actively excluding her. Instead, she was focused on her swing, school, and desire to have a working television. However, as the sheriff bursts into her home and destroys her television, these issues can no longer be ignored, destroying her innocence and forcing her to mature.

“Anyway, the reverend says the truth is gonna make itself known.”

As Reverend Walker recommends waiting for the truth about the garden to “make itself known,” it adds another layer to the theme of Finding One’s Voice in the Fight Against Prejudice. Often, it is important to not only find one’s voice but also recognize when it is the correct time to use it, as is shown at several points in the text through Reverend Walker, Addie Ann, Uncle Bump, and more.

“‘Fortunately, I’m in charge of the schools in Kuckachoo, so I’m just not gonna follow that law. Integration here?’ The mayor takes a bite. ‘That ain’t nothin’ but a thousand never evers!’”

The title of the novel—spoken the only time in the text by the mayor—reveals his feelings about segregation and the theme of Institutionalized Racism as a Tool for Oppression. Even if segregation is made legal, the force of law in the town vows never to follow federal law and instead use his power to continue to oppress the Black community. However, it is important to note that he uses a specific number of “never evers”—a thousand—implying that with repeated fight and resistance, no matter how many times they are turned away, eventually, Black people can overcome the racist systems that control their lives.

“‘Weedin’ and waterin’ is Negro work!’ [Mr. Mudge] says. Now Miss Springer’s fuming! ‘I’ll have you know,’ she says, ‘my daddy and his daddy before him did that work. So did your daddy. If he hadn’t, you wouldn’t be where you are today.’”

This quote reveals that Miss Springer is one of the more sympathetic characters in the novel to the struggle of the Black community. Although she does not actively support them and passively allows the injustices to occur, she does stand up in their defense in their private meetings that Addie Ann observes. This reflects the idea of Finding One’s Voice in the Fight Against Prejudice. Although she may not feel passionate enough to become directly involved, she does use her voice to show support in more subtle ways. Additionally, this interaction foreshadows her involvement in the trial, as she is the person who brought Mrs. Tate to trial and helped her testify.

“When Uncle Bump takes those bills and sticks them in his pocket, I feel good for the first time since Elias disappeared. But […] I see a thousand mounds of dirt that will burst with collards, cabbage, and button squash come fall. And I see those bills in my uncle’s pocket, they don’t amount to a bucket of spit.”

These thoughts from Addie Ann show how she is beginning to change in the novel. She realizes that, in the past, the idea of being paid to do work would be enough—and she is initially happy at the idea. However, as she becomes aware of the world, she realizes how little that payment is when there is far more of a reward from owning the garden rather than just working it.

“I’m lying in bed, crying for no reason. I listen to the plinkity-plink of rain on the rooftop till nightfall before it occurs to me. Maybe there is a reason for my tummy turning inside out. Maybe it’s because at West Thunder Creek Junior High School nobody jumps rope at recess.”

The feelings that Addie Ann has are reflective of her maturity in the novel. Although she is only able to articulate it as “nobody jumps rope at recess,” the reality is that her passage into middle school is going to force her to leave behind her childhood in order to deal with the injustices of the world around her.

“What’s the one thing that will change? What’s the one thing that’ll break me out of this dreadful existence? ‘You,’ he says. Then he sets to work building a fire to smoke that catfish. Later, after I swallow the last bite and lick the brown sugar off my fingers, I’m still wondering just what he means.”

Addie Ann’s fishing trip with her uncle is a key moment in her development in the text. It shows her childlike qualities as she discusses with him her concerns over her feelings for Cool Breeze and how she does not feel as pretty as Delilah. However, the lesson Uncle Bump attempts to teach her—that people can change—is reflective of her overall growth and development in the novel. Although she does not yet understand “what he means,” she will come to realize how she changes as she grows, both in smaller matters, like her relationship with Cool Breeze, and in the larger world.

“One thing’s clear: our reverend’s come back a changed man. […] Of course, he won’t fight with weapons—only wisdom and courage.”

Addie Ann’s thoughts about Reverend Walker after he returns from the March on Washington reflect the theme of Finding One’s Voice in the Fight Against Prejudice. Although Reverend Walker has always preached about equality and told the Black community about what is wrong with the world, he is now actively attempting to use his voice to make change, leading the community into the garden.

“‘Cause you ain’t a coward, Bump. But last I checked, you wasn’t no idiot neither,’ Mama shrieks. ‘Don’t you remember what happened to…’ Mama looks at me, changes her mind about something.”

Mama’s pause foreshadows a truth that she believes Addie Ann is not yet ready to hear due to her age, which is ultimately revealed to be the truth of her father’s death at the hands of the KKK.

“Mama just sits there on the side steps and looks at me like I’m too innocent for this world.”

This quote reflects Mama’s feelings toward Addie Ann—that she should be protected from the racism and prejudice of the world due to her age and, therefore, “innocence.” However, the fact that Addie Ann picks up on these nonverbal cues reflects her maturity and her ability to understand more of the world than Mama believes she can.

“But how am I supposed to be all right with the fact that my daddy was murdered? How am I supposed to be all right when my family didn’t even trust me with the truth?”

These questions are two important ideas that are pervasive throughout the novel. First, it shows the difference between “being all right” with something and recognizing that there is nothing that can be done—right now—to change it. Just because her family continues to work for white people and work with them does not mean that they are “all right” with her father’s murder, but rather that they recognize the futility of their anger or resistance to change it. Second, the fact that Addie Ann questions this reveals exactly why she was not “trusted with the truth”: She was not yet mature enough to discern when to continue to survive and when it is the right time and worth it to fight back.

“We can’t stand here and watch our lives burn. This isn’t just about Uncle Bump. This isn’t just about us Picketts. This is about all of us. Who we are. What our future holds.”

This quote mentions fire as something that not only destroys their homes but also threatens their futures to convey the theme of Community Support Against Injustice. Addie Ann realizes that their entire community must stand up against Uncle Bump’s conviction if there is ever going to be a chance at change.

“For a minute, I stop and wonder what my life would be like if Daddy had just followed the rules.”

This simple thought from Addie Ann is one of the most complex questions that the text asks. Daddy “following the rules” would mean sacrificing his dignity to build a house for the white mayor—something he promised himself he would never do again. Although he would still be alive and would have been able to raise Addie Ann, he would have had to sacrifice his dignity in the process and continue to follow along with the prejudiced system of the American South. These two sides—dignity versus survival—are at odds throughout the text as the characters battle with the question of when it becomes worth risking their lives to fight injustice.

“Then Miss Gold looks at the judge the same way I look at Flapjack after he’s dragged a dead mouse in the kitchen.”

This metaphor compares Miss Gold to Addie Ann and the judge to Flapjack—and the interaction that follows between the two after Flapjack brings her a dead mouse. The judge asks Mr. Tate to bring in his sales records—the “dead mouse”—but also tells him that there is “no hurry,” meaning that he has little desire to actually see him. This metaphor shows how the judge is providing something for Miss Gold and the trial, but that something is of little use if it is never actually brought—in essence, a “dead mouse.”

“Folks would rather believe what’s easy: a Negro committed this crime. But the truth is more complicated.”

This quote from Mrs. Tate at the trial reflects the feelings of Mrs. Tate, Miss Springer, and even Mr. Mudge. They are not outwardly racist themselves but simply go along with how things are because it’s “easy.” However, the reality is “more complicated,” which Mrs. Tate realizes and which ultimately causes her to come forward and testify at the trial.

“The jury foreman’s chair creaks when he stands. He makes a face like he just took a big gulp of sour milk. Then he opens up his mouth and spits it out. ‘Not Guilty.’ ‘What?’ asks the judge.”

This simile—comparing the jury foreman’s face with the verdict to the face of someone who just drank sour milk—and the judge’s immediate reaction to the verdict convey the theme of Institutionalized Racism as a Tool for Oppression. Despite all of the evidence in Uncle Bump’s favor—and the lack of evidence against him—both the foreman and the judge still believed that he would be found guilty, showing just how corrupt the system of justice is.

“I reckon things in Kuckachoo might be starting to change, because up till now, even if a Negro man had all the evidence on his side, he’d usually end up in jail or worse.”

Addie Ann’s thoughts from the conclusion of the text show her understanding of the reality of their situation in the 1960s American South. One trial does not create equality or completely change their situation, but it is a hopeful first step in bringing about change.