Why did the author include photos and excerpts from newspapers and letters in the book? What does doing so accomplish?

The story focuses primarily on the male members of the Tademy family. Why, then, did the author include two sections written from Polly’s perspective? What role do the other female characters play in the story?

McCully and Sam express two different views on how to promote the best interests of the black community, yet they remain friends and work together. How do their views differ, and how do they overlap? How do you think these two characters developed these differing views?