“In this story, her emphasis on the plight of two girls – Twyla and Roberta – prompts readers to consider their material conditions and the forms of neglect that they have experienced, regardless of who they are, and to recognize, question and challenge such systems,” says Riché Richardson, professor of African American literature. “‘Recitatif’ reminds us of what people share, the common denominators that connect us to others, regardless of our differences.”