Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Piecing Me Together, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Intersectionality, Identity, and Discrimination
The Power of Language
Mentorship, Opportunity, and Dignity
Friendship
Summary
Analysis
Maxine takes Jade to Powell’s, a bookstore so huge that it requires a map. In the room of art books, a clerk helps them find books on black collagists. The clerk asks Jade what she makes art about and then she pulls out books about Romare Bearden and Mickalene Thomas. Jade has never seen art like Mickalene’s: her collages are of pieced-together women of color. Jade tries to decide which book she wants, but at the register, Maxine pays for both of them. On the way home, Jade studies the books.
Maxine does Jade a huge service by introducing her to successful artists who look like her. This shows Jade that if she chooses to become a professional artist, she won’t be the first black, female artist out there—and therefore, she already has peers and a community waiting for her. This gives Jade more options to consider as she looks to her future, and it helps her develop trust for Maxine.
Themes
