American Street: Chapter 23 Summary & Analysis

It’s Thanksgiving. Fabiola remembers how her aunt and cousins used to call her and Manman to wish them a happy Thanksgiving—but back then, she didn’t know what the holiday was. Matant Jo has been busy planning the meal with Fabiola; Chantal, Pri, and Donna make requests but don’t help. At first, Matant Jo seems competent and in control. But after a while, Matant Jo retires to her room with a headache, leaving Fabiola in charge. Fabiola isn’t familiar with a lot of the foods on the list and wonders what else Matant Jo was going to do with the turkey, which only has salt and pepper on it. She begins to cook. Fabiola decides to make soup joumou with the pumpkin, and she cuts the turkey into small pieces. Since Fabiola feels so at peace in the kitchen, she doesn’t let her cousins enter.

Finally, everyone stands around the table, holding hands. Both Pri and Matant Jo thank God for Fabiola’s presence, and Fabiola sobs. She cries in part because she knows that Matant Jo isn’t working to get Manman back at all, but Pri cracks a joke and makes Fabiola feel better. Then, Fabiola fetches her turkey from the oven, puts it on the table, and pulls the tinfoil off. Everyone else shrieks and explains to Fabiola that she wasn’t supposed to cut up the turkey. Fabiola is incredulous. Regardless, everyone enjoys the meal until there’s a knock at the door—it’s Kasim. Before Fabiola can fix her hair or put a bra on, he enters and offers Matant Jo flowers. Pri attempts to get Kasim to make fun of Fabiola’s turkey, but he shares that he once had jerk turkey with a Jamaican family.

Kasim explains that his family boycotts Thanksgiving as “the white man’s holiday.” Chantal suggests that January 1 is the Black man’s holiday—it’s the day that Haiti became the first independent Black nation. As Kasim chats about food and Dray’s family’s thanksgiving feast, Fabiola thinks that nothing has changed since she learned her cousins sell drugs. Kasim finally reaches over to make sure Fabiola is okay. After dinner, Kasim goes upstairs to use the bathroom, and Fabiola changes into something nicer. When they both emerge, Kasim catches sight of Fabiola’s altar. Fabiola explains that she practices Vodou, and that their lwas are like spirit guides. Kasim shares that he grew up Muslim and that his name means “divided amongst many” in Arabic. They both agree to pray for the other, and Kasim kisses Fabiola.

In a letter to Manman, Fabiola wonders if Manman did this on purpose—did she know this was the only way to get Fabiola to America alone? But Fabiola notes that Manman raised her to be like an extension of herself, so Fabiola can’t go on without her. Fabiola writes that her cousins sell drugs and that Phillip died because of drugs. Manman would say that this sort of thing runs in the family—so what is Fabiola supposed to do to remove this curse? In closing, Fabiola says that the lwas are all around, helping her. Papa Legba will soon allow Manman through the gate.