Food, or the lack of it, symbolizes the presence or absence of support and relates to the theme of Race and Status in the South. As an act of protest, Annie goes on a hunger strike, indicating her desire to cut herself off from the values of planter culture. Her choice is voluntary, but Gertrude’s starvation is not. As the story begins, Gertrude and her girls are all starving. Mary’s condition is particularly acute since she might soon die. Since Gertrude has been isolated by Alvin, no one is nearby to look out for her family.

Retta’s gift of food and shelter pulls Gertrude back into the novel’s communities. As a result, food becomes more readily available. In Shake Rag, Retta feeds and cares for Mary. In Mrs. Walker’s house, Gertrude finds preserved food to tide her family over. At the end of the story, the entire Shake Rag community accepts Gertrude and restocks her pantry while she is gone. The Homecoming Camp is a harvest festival that unites all the various subcommunities in Branchville, symbolizing a rare breaking of social barriers. As the setting for the story’s climax, the festival symbolizes the importance of community in the face of hardship.