Linda's Life in the North

Linda’s experience in the North is nothing like she expected it to be. On the train ride to New York, Linda discovered that colored men and women were not allowed to sit in the first class cars. In response to this, Linda stated, “Colored people were allowed to ride in a filthy box, behind white people, at the south, but there they were not required to pay for the privilege. It made me sad to find out how the north aped the customs of slavery.” (pg. 248) Linda realized that there are several of the same divisions between colored people and white people in the North as there are in the South.
Also, Linda always feels a sense of insecurity and uneasiness all of the time. Linda hoped that by coming to the North, she would be able to live a good life with her family. She was mistaken. Linda realizes that she is going to have to work harder than she thought she would have to to bring her family together.