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"Son, Pop says, and grabs the back of my neck, his hand large and warm." (219)

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"Son, Pop says, and grabs the back of my neck, his hand large and warm." (219)

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When Pop calls Jojo "Son" it signifies their close bond and relationship. Pop is a fatherly figure to Jojo even though he is his Grandfather. With Pop being his father figure, he has the opportunity to treat Jojo as a Son of his own, and he does. When Jojo says his hands are "large and warm" shows the comfort that Jojo feel's when hes around Pop. "Son" is a name usually called by parents to their boys so when Jojo gets called Son by Pop he feels comfort and loving nature from Pop as his father. Pop is intelligent and loving so When Jojo gets that "Son" validation from him he feels warm and happy. Pop is the only "Father" that Jojo ever knew so he looks up to him as a role model for his future.

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"Mama,' I choke, and it's as weak and wanting as a baby's. 'Mommy."  (267)

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"Mama,' I choke, and it's as weak and wanting as a baby's. 'Mommy."  (267)

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Leonie calling Mam both 'mama' and 'mommy' symbolizes the fact that Leonie still feels like a child. Leonie calling Mam 'mommy', a name normally reserved for young children, shows how Leonie still relies on her mother. She is not ready for Mam to leave and does not know what to do without her. Calling out to Mam, "as weak and as wanting as a baby's", symbolizes Leonie's reliance on Mam. She has time and time again been unable to make the right choices for her kids and herself. Mam, who was always there for her and the one who comforted her throughout all her hardships is leaving her, and her calling Mam "mommy" is proof that she does not know how to navigate life on her own. She was always a child or baby to Mam and her dying brings Leonie to the reality that she is no longer a child, and instead a mother herself to both Jojo and Kayla.
BR

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"'Why y'all give me this name? Given?' ... 'We thought we couldn't have no kids, but then you was Given to us' ... Last night he smiled at me, this Given-not Given ... that came to be everytime I snorted a line ... popped a pill" (34).

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"'Why y'all give me this name? Given?' ... 'We thought we couldn't have no kids, but then you was Given to us' ... Last night he smiled at me, this Given-not Given ... that came to be everytime I snorted a line ... popped a pill" (34).

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Given's parents value his life because he is considered a gift from a higher power as they were unable to have kids before him. Leonie is haunted by the illusion of Given because he was considered valuable by her parents, so his gift of life was not meant to be taken away. As Leonie did not expect his death, his spirit still lives in her mind when his body does not. Furthermore, as Given's life was valued by her parents she still views him as someone who is special and looks out for her. The line "came to be every time I snorted a line" conveys how Given sticks by his sister after his death and makes sure she is okay whenever she does dangerous activities, such as getting high. By watching over his sister, Given supports the meaning of his name by continuing the gift of life after death.
- SR

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"'Girl,' Pop says. ... I stand and run at Jojo ... I hit his face ... 'That's enough,' Pop says. 'No more, Leonie'" (272).

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"'Girl,' Pop says. ... I stand and run at Jojo ... I hit his face ... 'That's enough,' Pop says. 'No more, Leonie'" (272).

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Leonie has put Mam out of her pain by letting her cross over into death. Afterward, Pop refers to her as "girl", a similar term of endearment he uses for Jojo. When Pop calls her "girl", he conveys his pride in the decision Leonie made. He knew what Leonie did was correct, so he used the term "girl" to refer to Leonie. Furthermore, Pop refers to Jojo, someone he views as a son, as "boy", so Pop expresses his role as a father in Leonie's life when he refers to her as "girl". However, after Leonie hits Jojo, Pop calls her by her first name. Pop's action of calling Leonie by her first name instead of a term of endearment symbolizes his disapproval of her abuse towards Jojo. In addition, Jojo calls Leonie by her name instead of Mama as a way to express her lack of maternal instinct, and Leonie lacks maternal instinct when she hits her son. Therefore, when Pop refers to Leonie by her name, he conveys his doubt that Leonie can be an adequate mother.
- SR

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"You was the only daddy I ever knew" (222).

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"You was the only daddy I ever knew" (222).

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Richie referring to Pop as "daddy" symbolizes the protective, fatherly role that River took on for Richie at Parchman. Pop has taken on a fatherly role not only for Richie but for Jojo and Kayla too. Richie feels angry and betrayed by Pop abandoning his ghost at Parchman, and resents the relationship that Jojo and Pop have now.  He feels replaced by Jojo and angry at Pop for abandoning him. Pop created a home for Richie at Parchman and after Pop left Parchman was just a place of pain and suffering. Richie referring to River with a nickname meant for a father figure shows the close relationship they had. Their relationship meant everything to Richie and when River was no longer at Parchman all Richie could feel was anger and loss of that safe home that River had provided for Richie.
BR

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"But sometimes I see the prison name, the place pop was: Parchman." (63)

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"But sometimes I see the prison name, the place pop was: Parchman." (63)

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Jojo reflecting on the mention of "Parchman" illustrates his view on Pop and Parchman. The name resinates with Jojo as connecting Pop to Parchman and thats how he sees Pop. Parchman being the miserable and horrific place that it is, demonstrates how Jojo feels about Pop. Now that Pop has been to such a place like Parchman, that is the place that Jojo with always attach Pop too. It is sad for Jojo that when he thinks of a tortuous place, He thinks of his "father". That name will always be stuck to Pops name in Jojo's mind.

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"That's your mama?' he ask. 'No' I say, and I don't explain" (179)

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"That's your mama?' he ask. 'No' I say, and I don't explain" (179)

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Jojo's refusal to call Leonie 'Mama' and even denying the fact that Leonie is his mom shows the complete absence of Leonie as a mother figure for Jojo in his life. Richie asks Jojo if Leonie is his mama as she is throwing up the drugs shes consumed. Jojo's straight forward answer of "No" without explanation shows how certain Jojo believes he has no connection to Leonie. Not only has Jojo refused to call Leonie Mama for the whole book so far, he has now refused her the title of actually being his mom. This change shows how Leonie's actions while on the trip to Parchmen are irredeemable to Jojo in the way that he will never be able to take comfort in her or trust her again. The way she constantly puts him and Kayla in dangerous situations with little to drink and eat has changed how he sees his relationship with Leonie.
BR

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"Go south, to River, to the face of the waters. He will show you" (191). 

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"Go south, to River, to the face of the waters. He will show you" (191). 

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Pop's name "River" symbolizes the comfort and direction he gives to those he cares about. Rivers are used as directions in the forest, if one follows the river, one will eventually find one's way back home. Pop is an important person to Richie as he is the only one at Parchman, and in Richie's life, who treats him with the care of a father. Therefore, the snake tells Richie to follow Pop because it knows Pop will provide him with advice and direction. Ghosts are wandering spirits, so the snake believes by going to River, Richie's fatherly figure, Richie will get the answer and the closure he needs to leave this world and move on. Earlier, the snake mentioned how Richie could be taken away from this world, but there were things he needed to see first. By saying "go south, to River", the snake is clarifying what Richie needs to move on. Furthermore, Pop's connection to nature through his name conveys Pop's reliability. Nature will exist for a long period of time, and Pop will continue to support Richie as long as he is able.
- SR

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"Sugar baby, what do you to me? he says. I dont know what to say because Given-not-Given is watching me closely, waiting for my reply..." (150). 

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"Sugar baby, what do you to me? he says. I dont know what to say because Given-not-Given is watching me closely, waiting for my reply..." (150). 

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Leonie mentions Given-not-Given several times. Given-not-Given is not Givens real name however he is referenced as Given-not-Given because he is a ghost and no longer alive. Leonie is afraid to respond to Michael in fear of saying something Given-not-Given will hear and not like. Leonie sees Given-not-Given as "haunting" her. She hopes that with a blink she will stop seeing him because of the fear and unease it is creating for her from the image of Given-not-Given in the room.
AG

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"Just Leonie, a name wrapped around the same disappointed syllables I've heard from Mama, from Pop, even from Given, my whole f***ing life" (147)

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"Just Leonie, a name wrapped around the same disappointed syllables I've heard from Mama, from Pop, even from Given, my whole f***ing life" (147)

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Leonie's bullying and abuse directed at Jojo is caused by her anger at the ways she failed him as a mother. Leonie is angry at herself for the way she's disappointed the people around her. She has failed at being a good mother to Jojo, and she is angry at both herself and Jojo for that. She is mad at Jojo because he never looks at her with the trust and love many mothers get. A symbol for this conflict is her name, Leonie. Jojo does not call Leonie Mama, which is a symbol for the disapproval and the lack of a parental roll she has in his life. Leonie's dislike at her name symbolizes her want to be a better mother to Jojo, as well as a better daughter to her parents and a better sibling to Given. However, like how she cannot change what people call her, she cannot get over her addiction, as well as her personal problems to be there for the people that need her.
BR

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"'He put up the gun, baby?' Michael asks" (165).

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"'He put up the gun, baby?' Michael asks" (165).

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The word "baby" is used by couples, and it signifies the couple's desire to care for one another because babies need care and attention from their parents, and people in romantic relationships need care and attention from their partner. When Michael refers to Leonie as "baby", he conveys his tendency to prioritize Leonie over his children. Jojo and Kayla are the people in Michael's life he should be using the term "baby" for because they are the ones who are the most deserving of his care and attention. As a father, Michael should prioritize the well-being of his children over his girlfriend. However, Michael is an absent and disconnected father figure because he was in prison for drugs, so he does not treat his children with the necessary care. By placing a romantic relationship over those who need his attention, Michael is expressing his failure as a father. Jojo does not view Michael as a father figure because Michael fails to give his children the attention and love they deserve. Moreover, in this instance, Jojo and Kayla are also in a time of fear and need as they are intimidated by the police officers, but Michael focuses on how his girlfriend is feeling in this situation, solidifying his failure as a father.
- SR

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"She aint Mam. She aint Pop. She aint never healed nothing or grown nothing in her life, and she dont know" (107)

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"She aint Mam. She aint Pop. She aint never healed nothing or grown nothing in her life, and she dont know" (107)

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When Leonie tries to aid Kayla, Jojo comments on Leonie’s fails of being a good mother. The repetition of “she ain’t” shows that Leonie will never live up to the nurturing expectations of her, and with the inclusion of “Mam” and “Pop”, who are exceptional caregivers, it further shows how Leonie fails. Leonie will never be those figures in their lives, and never has been, leading to Jojo’s generalized idea of Leonie that will never change. Mam embraces her gift while Leonie lets things get in the way of her being like Mam.
AG

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"'Take your time, son.' He says it so easy. Son...If I wasn't hiccuping, I would cut my eyes at Michael..." (128)

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"'Take your time, son.' He says it so easy. Son...If I wasn't hiccuping, I would cut my eyes at Michael..." (128)

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Michael's absence from Jojo's life while at Parchman Prison has made Jojo no longer see Micheal as a father figure. Jojo is angry and resents the fact that Micheal still refers to him as "Son", because he does not see himself as a son to Michael. In the car back home from Parchman, Jojo eats so fast he cannot breathe. Michael then tries to be a father to Jojo, telling him to slow down. Jojo is independent, and has learned to take care of himself, partly because of Michael's absence, and partially because of Leonies attachment to Michael. He is resentful when Michael tries to give him advice, because he does not see Michael as a father or parental figure of any kind. Instead, while his is in prison, Jojo looks up to Pop as a father, admiring him and imitating everything that he does. Jojo's reaction to what is normally a loving nickname symbolizes the lack of a parental relationship and connection Michael has with Jojo.
BR

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"'Michaela ... come on baby. You need to drink something.' She doesn't hear me" (99-100).

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"'Michaela ... come on baby. You need to drink something.' She doesn't hear me" (99-100).

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Leonie names her second child Michaela after her white boyfriend, Michael. By being in a committed relationship with Michael, Leonie is giving up the racial aspect of her identity in order to make the relationship function. Otherwise, there may be tension between them due to Micheal's white privilege. Therefore, Leonie tries to have her children also give up their black identity and use their white one. She names her daughter after a white man as a way to damper her blackness and focus more on her white father. The action of Kayla not responding to Leonie referring to her by full name instead of what Jojo calls her, Kayla, represents how Kayla does not wish to give up a piece of her identity as her mom did. Kayla wishes to be called what her brother and Black grandparents call her instead of the white name her mother calls her. By ignoring Leonie, Kayla is symbolizing her desire to prioritize her Black family and identity over her white family and identity.
- SR

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"You call him Pop," Richie says. I think it should be a question, but he says it like its a statement" (171).

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"You call him Pop," Richie says. I think it should be a question, but he says it like its a statement" (171).

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Richie sees Pop as a father figure to both him and Jojo but ultimately Pop is their grandfather. Jojo calls Pop "Pop" because he isn't his father but has a name to recognize him as a endearment grandfather. the name Pop shows the close nit bond him and Jojo have even as his grandfather. Jojo is confused on why Richie is not wondering why he calls him Pop because Richie also sees Pop as his father figure but Jojo fails to know that they have the same outlook on Pop.

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"It was a new thing, to look at her rubbing hands and her crooked teeth in her chattering mouth and not hear mama in my head, but her name: Leonie" (Ward 16).

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"It was a new thing, to look at her rubbing hands and her crooked teeth in her chattering mouth and not hear mama in my head, but her name: Leonie" (Ward 16).

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His mothers neglect caused him to no longer refer to her as mama symbolizing him no longer seeing her as a parental figure. the line "not hear mama in my head" coveys how it wasn't just a choice calling her Leonie it was a subconscious thought. Overall, this change in name symbolizes the end of his relationship with his mother and the affects of child neglect.