Arrangement in Black and White

Arrangement in Black and White

Dorothy ParkerпїЅs пїЅArrangement in Black and WhiteпїЅ is set during a dinner party for the hostпїЅs friend, Walter Williams, an African American musician. Though the party is celebrated in his name, most of the conversation takes place between the host and the main character, the woman with pink velvet poppies. From the conversation, the audience can deduce that though this woman admires Walter WilliamsпїЅs musical talent, she is unable to let go of the racist sentiment against his African American heritage. The author adds a flavor of sophisticated cynicism as she makes this point clear by having the main characters ironically make frequent references concerning how пїЅuntroubledпїЅ she is about the color of his skin. This argument is further emphasized when she greets Walter Williams; her body language and topic choice gives her predicament away. Through this story Parker implies that with the end of slavery did not entail the changing of the heartпїЅs and mindпїЅs of its supporters, no matter how much one can deny it to oneself.

Dorothy Parker sets up her main character be in conflict with all her possessed qualities. For example, although her age is never stated, she seems young judging by her energetic