How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

After making love to her lover, Frank, on the coldest night in the history of Alabama, Emmaline falls asleep and dreams about The White Lady for a third time, making it certain the dream is a “prophecy” and not “just wasted sleep” (34). In the dream a voice warns her that “a White Lady a-comin” and thus Emmaline decides to “prepare” (35-36). Before she wakes, though, she is transported to a scene where black protestors are marching among a crowd of “angry” white people (36). She can tell the scene is about to turn bloody but wakes up before she can do anything about it. Awake now, Emmaline ushers Frank off to work while neglecting her daughter, Pauline, who is also suffering from nightmares.

As spring takes over Alabama, Emmaline finds a lot of work as a healer. With Pauline by her side, Emmaline doles out “herbs and prayers” to the more unfortunate members of Pratt City (37). One of her customers, Nadine, asks for Emmaline’s help with an unwanted pregnancy. Emmaline agrees to help her although she “sigh[s]” when she finds out the father is white (39). With segregation having been recently legalized, racial tensions are high, and Emmaline takes into consideration that the issue is more complicated for Nadine than just having another mouth to feed.