Yellow Wife: A Mindful Discussions Recap

This article will discuss quotes and themes from Yellow Wife.

The book cover of Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson.

On August 5th, we discussed the amazing historical fiction novel, Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson. Set in mid-19th-century Virginia (Richmond, specifically), the book was inspired by the real-life slave jail: Lumpkin's Jail, which was also known as the devil's half-acre due to its brutal, violent reputation.

Sadeqa Johnson, in her inspiration for this book, noted her "curiosity about learning about Mary Lumpkin and the Lumpkin jail. [She] couldn't stop imagining what Mary Lumpkin's life was like living in those conditions."

Sadeqa Johnson, author of Yellow Wife.

Yellow Wife explores what it's like to be a mixed-race enslaved woman in the South simply trying to survive: all while battling the struggles of forced servitude, sexual exploitation, and motherhood.

We opened Mindful Discussions with a simple question: What is the phrase "Yellow Wife" referring to?

Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with the Asian experience or the stereotypes related to it. The title, Yellow Wife, refers to mixed-race people who are of African-American and European descent. In Pheby Delores Brown's (the protagonist's) case, she is the daughter of her enslaved mother, Ruth, and her white slave master.

The history of the term "yellow" in this context (which later inspired phrases like "yellow-bone") stems from the phrase "high yellow." It describes Pheby's ancestral heritage—mixed with white and Black—and is intended to reference (sometimes in a derogatory way) the light skin tone of many mixed-race Black people.

There are countless important themes and scenes to unpack in this book; however, one passage we discussed in our Mindful Discussion is particularly impactful:

While Pheby is serving dinner to Master Jacob and Missus Delphina, she is instructed to stand quietly against the wall and act like she's not listening—in other words, to be invisible. She recalls, “Mama always said the way to keep peace with white folks was to be available and invisible at the same time.” 

This sentiment has deep connections to modern-day experiences and has several socio-political implications in modern society.

For example, the idea of Black invisibility yet availability to white people in society: this idea reflects how Black people have historically been directed to live in the shadows, being invisible, but not reaping the same benefits of those who they serve. In other words, they are directed to be of service, but aren't adequately recognized for what they do. This idea translates to modern-day workforce expectations, public safety, and even caretaking roles: Black people are sometimes not acknowledged for their humanity, but for their potential to be "available" to serve others.

Another key scene within this book that has modern implications details Pheby's wish for her son, Monroe, to speak "properly" like her. Monroe explains his fear of speaking properly, believing he'll be punished for it. Pheby says to Monroe, "People will judge you on the way that you speak," to which he replies, "Silver-head man did not like me speaking like white folk...told me to watch my uppity ways."

The scene begs the analyzation of speaking styles, and how they relate to survival: especially for Black people who were enslaved in America in the past, and even Black American citizens today. Language is important: it has the power to define an entire demographic based off of key words, phrases, accents, and speaking styles (all of which are factors in a dialect).

For example, AAVE (African American Vernacular English) has key words and phrases that distinguish it from standard American English; it doesn't mean it's a different lanuage, but rather, a dialect with unique characteristics. Language can be used as a means for survival, especially in instances where one is isolated in a community where everyone else speaks differently. Some may feel the need to assimilate, to conform to the standards of others and speak like everyone else. This is called "code switching," and it's a prevalent social tactic used often in spaces where one aims to feel welcome in an unfamiliar space.

The themes of racial inequity, exploitation, and survival are plentiful in Yellow Wife, and they unite to tell a meaningful story about the intersectional struggles of Black women. This is a beautiful but raw story about the impact of slavery on families, the psyche, and the Black female experience.

If you haven't read this book, BySabrina highly encourages it! It is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, as an audiobook, and several other book platforms.

Always Be Mindful of your impact, Be Purposeful in what you do, and Be Positive in what you say.

Best,

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