The “colored matron” who the movie theater sends to control particularly rowdy audiences because “she do not play. She do not smile.” She is “big and bad” and carries a flashlight “like she gonna use it on somebody.” When the children in the audience loudly rebel at being tricked into paying to see King of Kings, the theater staff sends in Thunderbuns, and the kids get quiet as soon as she enters the room. Hazel never reveals her given name, but her nickname is meant to indicate the fear and respect she evokes as an example of black female power. Even though Hazel is wary of other adults and the power they have over children, she seems to respect Thunderbuns.
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Thunderbuns Character Timeline in Gorilla, My Love
The timeline below shows where the character Thunderbuns appears in Gorilla, My Love. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Gorilla, My Love
...continue to yell and start racing around the theater aisles. They only quiet down when Thunderbuns—“the big and bad” “colored matron” who “do not play”—arrives, looking like she is about to...
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