Tony Pham Tumbling By Diane McKinney- Whetstone Study Guild Herbie spends most of his days at the Club Royale despite being married to Noon. One night while walking home after leaving the club, he stumbles upon a box outside his house. He lights a match and in the box was a baby. Herbie brought in the baby and called his wife Noon downstairs. The baby was later named Fannie and at times Fannie kept Noon and Herbie together. Herbie is unhappy at Noon due to the fact even after being married for over a year, she still resist to pleasure him, therefore he goes to the club. Years before marrying Noon, he had a fling with a singer named Ethel. Things from the past come to haunt him as Ethel avoids him and then one day she left to go to New York. Herbie might be very faithful to his wife Noon but he does truly love and care for her. He is a great father to Fannie and is over protective of her. Noon is a devoted Christian and spends most of her days at church trying to be healed for the pain she endured when she was younger. When Noon was 12 years old she was abducted by a cult and abuse and raped. The horror of her past is the reason why she can't open up to her husband Herbie, knowing that he won't understand. She finds comfort in the church and Reverend Schell as she seeks for guilder and peace of mind. By the end of the story she is able to move past the pain while a little help from an unexpected person, Ethel, who had help Noon walk home after being blinded by the dust in her eyes. Noon had finally defeated her demons and with faith she was also a very strong mother and figure for the community. As a mother she is caring, conservative, and loving of both Fannie and Liz. Throughout most if not the entire story she despised Ethel for leaving Liz on her doorsteps at the age of 5 years old. Noon 's struggles only shows her true strength as she kept her head high even after all her troubles with an unfaithful husband, raising two daughters that aren't hers, the church being destroyed, and a past that left a unforgettable nightmare.

Ethel is a singer who travels the world but her career forced her to do the unforgivable. She believes that it is her duty to help free the pain of the men she pleasures because she seeks redemption for what her mentally ill-ed mother did. Ethel's mother killed a man while she was young and that has scared her since. Ethel finds trouble as Herbie falls in love with her. Ethel knows Herbie and says he's a good man and therefore she left her baby in front of Herbie's and Noon's house. Ethel knew about Noon and Herbie and trusted that they would be good parents to her baby later named Fannie. More problems occurs as Ethel finds out that her sister and step brother had been killed in a car accident and she is left with Liz. She knows that Liz would prevent her from her career and therefore she left Liz in front of Noon and Herbie's house. Ethel is a independent woman who puts career ahead of family which is her flaw. Fannie is the baby left in box and founded by Herbie. She is raised by Noon and Herbie as a child of their own. Throughout most the book her real parents were unknown until the near end when Ethel revealed that she was the biological mother and that Herbie was the biological father but only Ethel knows and never confessed. Fannie came at a time when Noon and Herbie's marriage was on the rocks, Fannie came as a gift and blessing by God to Noon and Reverend Schell. Her personality is often humorous and she acts very tomboy but her fear is fate because she is always unsure if she can fix and prevent things from happen. In a fight with her sister Liz, she was hit with a hammer and was rushed to the hospital by Ethel. She survived and when she saw Liz she rushed to hug her and all was forgiven. Fannie, is a very heart warming character as she struggles to show her sister Liz that she loves and cares deeply for her. Liz is the niece of Ethel who was left in front of Noon and Herbie's house at the age of 5 years old. Liz's birth parents were killed in a car accident and the responsibility of being a care giver was given to Ethel. Ethel left Liz in order to pursue her career but she knew that Noon and her husband would be the perfect parents. Liz is very close to Noon and Fannie and considers them closer than family. Liz and Herbie had there share of tensions towards each other though. She knows about Herbie and how he would

leave Noon every night to be with her aunt Ethel and because of that she resented him. Liz is traumatized by seeing Ethel with different guys each night and therefore she tries to cope with her insecurities by eating pieces of plaster on the wall. She locks herself inside her room as Fannie tries to breakthrough to her, and as a result Liz threw a hammer at Fannie leaving her injured. Ethel comes to find Liz holding onto Fannie, repeating apologies. As Fannie is rushed to the hospital , Liz returns to Noon and Herbie's home looking like death. Noon takes her in and cleans her up after she confesses to Noon and Herbie about Ethel and what she did to Fannie. Liz craves a life of luxury and attention. Make a list of Time markers McKinney- Whetstone uses to revive this bygone era of the mid20th century. Jazz music was very popular during this time in American History. Ethel played and sang popular jazz songs . Also, in the 1940's the United States was dealing with World War II and Herbie went to serve as Noon stayed home trying to raise and keep the family afloat. Racism was still strong and breathing during this era of history. A few times in Tumbling there were occurrences of racism towards Noon, Fannie, and Liz. What local landmarks or well-known businesses mentioned in the novel have disappeared from our cityscape? The Wanamakers department store, The Royal Crown, the Church Noon attended, Pops corner store as well as Bows barbershop no longer exist as local business and landmarks went missing with the cityscape. The migration of African Americans from the South to the North was still taking place during the 1940's and early 1950's. What references are made to the South? The Jim Crow era and segregation throughout the South forced African Americans to migrate North. Some references made to the south was when Noon talked about how she was raised in the south and when compared to Philadelphia. Also, Noon's cooking is influenced by a southern Virginia style. At

last the laws in the south about adoption was less stricter and Noon and Herbie faced trouble as they tried to put Liz and Fannie through school. Recount several instances of racism encountered by characters in the novel. How does the author use these incidents to recreate the prevalent racism Africans endured during this time period? Diane McKinney- Whetstone uses the incidents of racism to set the stage. When Noon was a child she was kidnapped by a cult that abused her an scared her for most of her life throughout the story. Noon is always searching for healing because of what she had to suffer when she was twelve. Another moment of racism was when Noon and Herbie tried to get Liz's adoption papers confirmed and was cursed in the privacy of their own home.