The Glory Field

Main characters are Black and have diverse body types, skin color, ages, and personalities. Minor characters include Chinese American and Indian American friends. Discussions of systemic racism range from slavery to banks not lending money to Black people to segregation and other injustices. Ambitious women like business owner Luvenia and doctor Jennie are respected by family members. Religious diversity via the first Lewis ancestor from Sierra Leone, who's Muslim and prays to Allah (the rest of the Lewises are Christian). Disability is normalized, with minor characters such as Uncle Yero described as "a little touched in the head and crippled in his left leg" and Loote Epps who "lost a leg to sugar," plus characters who stutter. But a blind boy does need to be rescued by nondisabled characters, and one cruel overseer "walks with a limp."

Characters are captured and forcibly transported by ship, people scream during family separation, and someone is tied to a tree. Mentions of toes cut off as punishment and Black people being hanged. Most acts of violence are described without detail, but one whipping and a beating reference blood, pain, bruising, a dislocated jaw, long-lasting damage to an eye, etc. Extreme peril as enslaved characters hide from White men on horses and hounds. Rifles and guns are used to threaten or defend, but there's no active gun violence described, except past mentions of people being shot. References to the Ku Klux Klan and the terror and murders they carry out. Mention of a father dying in the Vietnam War. A character gets bitten by a snake and is rushed to the hospital.

Characters kiss chastely, have crushes, court each other, get married, and start families -- but romance and dating aren't the focal point. A little innuendo when a girl's bra strap breaks, and another girl responds, "You ain't got nothing to hold up so what you need it for?" and a woman is described as having an "enormous bosom" in a nonsexual context.

No swearing, but White characters frequently use the "N" word and other racist terms like "uppity" or "boy" to refer to a Black adult. "Negro" and "colored" are used as neutral terms by White and Black characters, as is the word "crippled" (mentioned once). Put-downs include "stupid," "heifer," and "sissy."

Main characters infrequently smoke pipes, cigarettes, cigars and drink beer; one is addicted to crack and shows symptoms of withdrawal (vomiting, shaking, etc.). A minor villain spits tobacco juice. Mentions of whiskey and people being "liquored up."