Content warning: This section of the guide discusses racism and emotional abuse.

Morrison uses African American Vernacular English (AAVE), a variety of English, to convey the unique voice of her narrator and provide insight into her experiences and perspectives. Sweetness uses AAVE which reflects her upbringing and cultural background. For example, she says that Lula Ann’s hair “don’t go with the skin” and that her “own mother, Lula Mae, could have passed easy” (Paragraph 1). Her use of AAVE is also apparent when she is defensive, such as when she insists that she “ain’t never, ever fooled around” (Paragraph 5). The English variety in “Sweetness” creates a sense of place and authenticity. The way Sweetness speaks is consistent with her experiences and cultural background, and this helps to establish the story’s American setting and atmosphere.

Toni Morrison employs imagery in the story to convey the theme of Colorism and White-Passing. The most prominent image in the story is Lula Ann’s “blue-black” skin, which symbolizes the Black identity that Sweetness and her family fear. This image is repeated throughout the story and reinforces the notion of colorism.