Copper Sun

“We must welcome our guests, then, Amari. We would never judge people simply by how they looked—that would be uncivilized…Let us prepare for a celebration.”

This inherent irony is a commentary on the inaccurate views that white Americans have of Africans. While white Americans may have believed theirs to be the more “civilized,” developed nation, Amari’s mother is sure to point out that their peaceful, welcoming community is truly more civilized than the slave owners.

“The spirit of the copper sun seemed to bleed for them as it glowed bright red against the deepening blue of the great water.” 

Amari’s attitude about the copper sun has shifted since it was first described. Before, it was an emblem of home and it brought comfort. Now, given her circumstances on the “ship of death”, the sun is seen to be suffering with her.

“I see a power in you.”

This is one of Afi’s first moments with Amari, and this strength that Afi sees in Amari is the exact strength that allows Amari not only to come out of her terrible ordeals alive, but to come out free. Amari is unwilling to let her spirit die, and Draper suggests that this strength in spirit is what guarantees a person’s triumph no matter the circumstances.

“‘They treat us like animals, but tonight we will be forced to be their women.’”

This troubling line is Afi’s warning to Amari and to the other women of the foul sexual treatment they will have to endure at the hands of the sailors. Whether the women are animals or “their women,” the connotation is that they are disposable to these men; they are objects to be controlled and used as the men wish

“Amari looked at the sun as it disappeared into the sea; it burned coppery bright and beautiful. She tried to sear that beautiful sight on her memory as a shield to the ugliness that she now knew was about to happen.”

With one last look at her homeland, Amari tries to find comfort in the familiar copper sun of Africa. This idea of holding on to the memory of something meaningful for comfort is repeated by Teenie when Amari arrives at the plantation. It is this memory and spiritual connection to home that will give Amari the strength to continue despite the awful trials she experiences.

“Find beauty wherever you can, child. It will keep you alive.”

This statement is similar to Amari’s clinging to the comfort in the copper sun. Afi’s advice here is to keep up hope in the good things as a shield that will protect her spirit. If she allows the ugliness to “take over,” she will lose her will to live.

“She wondered how the sun could shine so brightly on this land of evil people.” 

The copper sun, the sun that she associates with Africa, is present in America too, and this astounds Amari. Because the new world is so different than what she is used to, she does not understand how she could share anything with these people. It’s another way for Draper to illustrate the universality of human experience, despite country or colour.

“Polly really didn’t like negroes…they talked funny, they smelled bad, and they were ugly…Besides, Negroes made it difficult for regular folks like herself to get work. Who could compete with somebody who worked for free?”

This quotation illustrates Polly’s initial ignorance about Amari and black people in general. Sadly, this was most likely a common attitude held by a lot (if not most) of the white people at the time, and it demonstrates white “superiority” prejudice. However, it is also a comment on the corruptness of the system that slaves were a part of, and how it hurt not only blacks, but the white poor as well

“Living here in the colonies had to be better than living like a savage in the jungle. They ought to be grateful, she thought.”

Again, this statement shows Polly’s ignorance, but this is more tailored towards her misunderstanding of the humanity of black people and of how they lived in Africa. She assumes that the way she lives in America is automatically much better than the way Amari lived in her old home.

“They expect to be disciplined…It shows them that I care enough to make sure they do their tasks correctly.” 

This is Percival Derby’s bizarre justification for how he treats his slaves. He assumes he knows what the slaves think and sees it as his “duty” to “correct” them. He twists his cruel “discipline” into some form of care.

“Polly listened in amazement. She’d had very little experience with wealthy people, but she had never met anyone with attitudes like the Derby men seemed to have. She glanced at the African girl, who surely had no idea what her future held. She found herself feeling sorry for this new slave who huddled in the wagon, glistening with sweat.” 

Already, within a few hours with Amari in the back of the Derby wagon, Polly’s ignorant veil of prejudice is beginning to lift. She already sees a connection to Amari as a human being, and when she can see her in this light, then she can see the evil in the Derbys’ words and attitudes. Her ignorance is also shattered regarding her ideas about the wealthy—she assumes they are “fine” people just because they have money, but she soon learns that money doesn’t make them respectable people.

“…black women are different…they like it when you pick them out for special favours at night…And it reminds them in a very special way who is the master and who is the slave…White women, like my Isabelle and your mother before her, are to be respected and treated like fine china.”

This echoes the superior attitude of Percival Derby and how he believes he knows what black women want. He asserts that they are different than white women and, therefore, should be treated differently. According to him, only white women deserve respect. However, the reference to white women being treated “like fine china” is also disturbing as it shows that he objectifies women, rather than treating them as equal human beings.

“‘Not all white people are rich landowners’, Polly said coldly.” 

Polly provides an important reality for the reader; while it may be easy to assume that all white people were evil and took advantage of the corrupt system of the time, this assumption is not true. The similar struggle that she has had with poverty and an indentured life serves to align her with the slaves, to some degree. Again, Draper is clearly pointing out the universality of human experience, even the injustices that are felt by both races.

“‘Well, the sun don’t shine on the same dog’s tail all the time…Everybody’s got hard times at one time or t’other.’” 

Here Teenie echoes the same sentiment (the universality of human experience) and reveals the compassion that she has for Polly; she doesn’t minimize her suffering. Because people in all walks of life will experience trials at some time, this should lead to empathy and understanding between people.

“Long as you remember, chile, it ain’t never gone.” 

This advice from Teenie becomes a mantra for Amari that pushes her through her sorrow towards freedom. It speaks to the essential “spirit” of things and says that this spirit can be kept inside regardless of the circumstances. It allows Amari to keep her family and her homeland in her heart as she finds a new home in this strange world.

“Amari understood well, but it surprised her. She’d never really thought about Polly’s loss or grief. She just figured that because Polly was a white girl, her life just had to have been easier.”

It isn’t only Polly who must lose “ignorance”: Amari too holds some prejudices about Polly as a white girl. Amari assumes Polly can’t feel loss or pain because she is automatically immune to troubles as a white person. Being able to see things from Polly’s perspective opens up the door to empathy and a friendship between the girls.

“What is the advantage of being white if I have to work like I’m black every day?” 

Polly is still showing frustration about her treatment. She erroneously assumes that because she is white she should have better treatment, but it turns out that she is a just as much a slave as Amari is. She is clearly aware that there is an advantage to being “white,” and she senses an injustice that she isn’t treated are more “white.”

“This time last year, when she was back in Beaufort with her folks, she wouldn’t have given a second thought to a slave going to work in the rice fields. That’s what a slave was supposed to do. Who cared about the feelings of an ignorant slave, anyway? But this was someone she knew, maybe even felt sorry for. Somehow that made a difference.” 

Despite moments of feelings of superiority, the readers see Polly’s attitude change towards Amari. It is also a “measurement” as to how far she has come when she can contrast herself to who she was a year ago.

“Black baby. White mama. Big trouble!” 

Although Amari is a complete stranger to this new world in America, she has learned quickly that blacks and whites do not “mix.” She has had enough experience with the Derbys and their treatment of black people to know that this baby indicates terrible things to come.

“Amari lifted her head to the night sky. Bright stars decorated the darkness above, and she wondered if they were the same stars that had winked at her so far away in her homeland.” 

This connection to the light in the sky (much like the copper sun) occurs when Amari is free in the woods the first night after her escape. Even though Africa is “worlds away,” she recognizes that the stars she is looking at now are the same stars that looked down on her in Africa. The fact that she “lifted her head” to look towards the light symbolically represents a more hopeful, brighter future for her.

“Freedom is a delicate idea, like a pretty leaf in the air: It’s hard to catch and may not be what you thought when you get it.”

This wise statement comes from Polly when Tidbit asks what freedom will be like for them (he has known nothing different). Here, Draper isn’t romanticizing freedom for the runaways; rather, she is presenting a very real possibility that they may not even experience true freedom because it’s “hard to catch.” They run the serious risk of getting captured. Furthermore, the freedom they long for may not be the paradise they expect or desire, and they need to be prepared for that. 

“Tonight, however, she reminded herself, she must concentrate not on what was lost, but on what must be found.” 

Things aren’t easy for the runaways as they run into serious difficulties. However, this positive attitude exhibited by Amari demonstrates that she will remain firm in her resolve to find freedom. It echoes Afi’s advice to find the beauty in the ugliness as an encouragement to continue on even though things may seem hopeless. Furthermore, this choice to look at things a certain way will preserve her spirit.

“Hope and dreams are all any of us have.”

This very literal statement offered by Inez in Fort Mose illustrates how very little the free people have in terms of possessions and money. However, they’re still living. This suggests that it’s really the hopes and dreams that a person has that keep them alive, not food or other goods. Material items can be taken away in an instant (just like Amari’s life in Africa), and hopes and dreams are the only things that give life purpose