Racial Identity and Belonging

Helga Crane's mixed-race heritage creates a persistent sense of displacement and alienation, as she struggles to find acceptance in both white and Black communities, exemplified by the Langston Hughes epigraph and her constant movement between America, Denmark, and Harlem.

The epigraph directly poses the question of where someone who is 'neither white nor black' belongs, establishing racial identity as a core theme.

Helga's struggle with her mixed-race heritage and her search for a place where she fits, whether in Naxos, Harlem, or Denmark.

Helga's lack of family and her mixed-race heritage make her feel like an outsider in Naxos's 'first family' society, highlighting the theme of belonging.

Helga's internal conflict over her mixed-race heritage and her rejection of Naxos's color-conscious dress codes highlight her struggle with racial identity and belonging.