Unnamed Negro Woman 4

Much to Mink's surprise in The Mansion, this "big Negro woman" (305) is a congregant of Goodyhay's church. Albert explains to Mink that "her son had it too just like she was a white woman" - "it" is never clearly explained, but probably means that this son was killed during World War II (305). She sits "alone on the back" bench in the service (307), but later moves to the front to sit next to and comfort a white woman; Mink still seems surprised that the only response to this by "the white people" in the benches is to "make way for the Negress to sit down beside the young white woman" (311).