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158 Unit 2 ■ Analyzing Comparisons and Representations Nafissa Thompson-Spires ■ Fatima, the Biloquist: A Transformation Story 159 UNIT 2

165 At the moment she was especially into lis- she kicked him in the face once, delighting in phrase fit her about as bulkily as the puffy Fatima’s suggestions that “Heavens to 10 SHIFT Fatima and Violet’s relationship is
tening to Daniel Johns whine, reading his fat lip and his inability to hit girls who powder-blue FUBU jacket she found in a 290 Murgatroid” and “Oh my gosh, he is so hot” much like that of a teacher-student or mentor-
Charles Brockden Brown, and daydreaming weren’t his girlfriend or baby mama. thrift store in downtown Rialto. be added to the list as numbers 11 and 12 IDEAS IN LITERATURE mentee relationship for Fatima. When she gets
Still, she was happy when Violet looked
of a sickly boyfriend like Arthur Mervyn, for 210 “I’m kidding,” Violet said. “We don’t all get 250 Still, she was happy when Violet looked respectively, were met with a frown and a external validation from Violet, Fatima feels like
approvingly at it. Pale Violet became the
reasons limited omniscience can’t or won’t locked up.” 10 approvingly at it. Pale Violet became the threat from Violet that she would revoke she is making progress toward her goals.
s b
lac
kness,
arbiter of F
y
e
or of
arbiter of Fatima’s blackness, the purveyor of
atima’
the purv
170 explain. If black people wouldn’t accept her, Fatima stuttered. arbiter of Fatima’s blackness, the purveyor of Fatima’s study-guide privileges if she
all things authentic. Though she was barely
she would stick to what she knew. “I can see I’ma have to teach you a lot of all things authentic. Though she was barely 295 persisted with lame interjections. Fatima 11 WORD CHOICE The list of words and
But Violet’s judgment held more heft in things. You ready?” Violet meant ready to 5’1 and chunky by most standards — nearly stifled her joke about the rain in Spain falling glossaries show that language is an important
stifled her joke about the rain in Spain falling
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
mostly on the plains and practiced on,
her critique — a possibility for transforma- 215 leave the food court, but Fatima meant more 255 obese by Fatima’s — you would think Violet 12 mostly on the plains and practiced on, facet of social standing and participating in a
assured that Violet’s tutelage would confer
tion. When a black girl with natural green when she said, “Yeah, I’m ready.” And thus was Pamela Anderson, the way she walked, assured that Violet’s tutelage would confer culture, which is why Fatima studies slang as
upon her, like Carwin, “a wonderful gift” of
175 eyes and blonde hair and a big chest and began her transformation. like a hula doll on a dashboard swinging hips upon her, like Carwin, “a wonderful gift” of if it were a completely different language (like
biloquism.
bubble butt that wiggle independently of and breasts. 300 biloquism. Spanish).
each other tells you that you, with your sable • • • She lived in Fontana, and the distance Glossaries soon followed. 12 CHARACTER Again, Fatima understands her
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skin and dark hair, are not black enough, If only Baratunde Thurston had been writing 260 between their respective houses was fifteen 1. Hella = a more intense “hecka” relationship with Violet is to achieve the purpose
sometimes you listen. when Fatima came of age, she could have minutes, but only seven if they met halfway, 2. Hecka = a lot / really; Fatima preferred of being able to engage in a language or culture
180 “It’s not that I’m trying to be white. It’s 220 learned how to be black from a book instead Fatima borrowing her father’s alternate car this to “hella.” Fatima feels is different from the ones she
just that’s what I’m around.” of from Violet’s charm school. Even a quick (the 1993 Beamer, so as not to look ostenta- 305 3. Fisshow = for sure, or as Fatima used to already understands and participates in.
“You don’t have no church friends? You glance at Ellison could have saved her a lot of tious) and Violet getting a ride from one of pronounce it, fer shure.
adopted? Your parents white, too?” Violet trouble, but she wasn’t ready for that, caught 265 her brothers or occasionally driving her 4. Crunk = crazy, as in “we bout to get crunk 13 WORD CHOICE Not only does Fatima feel
didn’t seem to want a response. “Where do up, as she was, in the dramas of Arthur mother’s old Taurus. They never met at each up in here.” [Fatima already knew what rage when Wally uses the n-word, but she
185 you stay?” 225 Mervyn and Carwin the Biloquist and all of other’s houses, lest Fatima’s upper-middle this meant from an *N’Sync chatroom, feels uncomfortable using it herself. Including
“With my parents,” Fatima wondered if them. With Violet’s help, Fatima absorbed the opulence embarrass Violet, and because 310 where she lurked while girls discussed it in the glossary demonstrates a contrast of
something was wrong with Violet for asking sociocultural knowledge she’d missed, not there was no space for Violet to carve out for Justin Timberlake’s frequent use of the perspectives on the historical background of the
such a stupid question. through osmosis or through more relevant 270 herself at her house. term.] n-word versus its reappropriation by the African
“I mean where do you live?” Violet said. literature, but through committed, structured 11 Violet made Fatima a study guide of 5. A grip = a lot, as in “I just found a grip of American community.
Violet made Fatima a study guide of
the top-ten black expressions for rating
190 “Upland,” Fatima said. 230 ethnographical study. the top-ten black expressions for rating marshmallows in the cupboard.”
attractive men, and they worked over the
“They got black people there. My cousin She immersed herself in slang as rigor- attractive men, and they worked over the 315 6. Peeps = those cute little marshmallows
Frankie lives there,” Violet said, chewing the ously as she would later immerse herself in pronunciations together. and also people / folks
pronunciations together.
dots of ice cream in a way that upset Spanish for her foreign language exam in 275 1. Foine 7. Whoadie = ? [Violet wasn’t sure either, but
Fatima’s teeth. Violet wore a tight white grad school; she pored over VIBE Magazine 2. Dang Foine you were supposed to say it.]
195 top, cream Dickies, and white Adidas 235 and watched Yo MTV Raps and The Parkers, 3. Hella Foine 8. Shawty = like, your girl, or your boo
tennis shoes. trying to turn her mouth around phrases 4. Bout it, bout it [as in “Oooh, he bout it, 320 9. Boo = your shawty or your girl
“Yes, but not on my street.” Fatima wore a with the same intonation that Countess bout it.” This phrase especially required 10. Playa = One who gets a lot of women
pink cardigan, black Dickies, and skater Vaughn used — a sort of combination of a 280 the Countess Vaughn intonation and or men [Fatima thought this was a beach,
shoes, Kastels. Jersey accent and a speech impediment. often included spontaneous bouts of rais- at first].
200 Violet paused her crunching and talking 240 When she couldn’t get into those texts, she ing the roof ]. 11. Playahata = Wally the Wigger
for a moment. “You have a boyfriend?” encouraged herself with old episodes of 5. Hot Diggity, said with a scowl 325 12. **Nigga = [a word Fatima could not bring
**Nigga = [a word Fatima could not bring
herself to say or embrace, no matter how
Fatima shook her head. “Do you?” Fresh Prince that played in constant 6. Dizam! herself to say or embrace, no matter how
much Violet, VIBE, or others insisted that
“I’m in between options right now. Any- early-morning and late-afternoon rotation, 285 7. Hot Diggity Dizam 13 much Violet, VIBE, or others insisted that
way the last one is locked up in Tehachapi.” feeling assured that if Ashley Banks could, 8. Ooh, hurt me, hurt me it was positive, or reappropriated.]
it was positive, or reappropriated.]
205 Fatima nodded. She had a cousin who had 245 after five seasons, become almost as cool as 9. Phat 13. *Gangsta = cool. But also gangster, as in
served time there. He called her bourgie, and Will, then she could, too. Her new turns of 10. Ooohweee 330 “You’s a gangsta / No I’m not / You’s a
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DIFFERENTIATION
Connections to Self
Author Thompson-Spires writes directly from her
own childhood experience, creating the story she
always wanted to read when she was a kid. Ask
students what is the poem, or book, that they
want to read and haven’t found yet.

Nafissa Thompson-Spires Fatima, the Biloquist: A Transformation Story 159

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