Hart’s 14-year-old daughter, Kimberly Vaughan, was a Girl Scout through and through, who devoured books and was a model of politeness, with an occasional burst of sassiness sneaking through.

Crystallized ginger adds “sassiness,” and passion fruit provides the desired juiciness.

The Leons of our neighborhoods are also the ones who are most likely to settle with the Wandas because they represent everything a project boy needs in a partner – from the sassiness to the understanding of how the streets work, to their uncanny ability to surprise you, just when you thought you had them all figured out.

For some, sassiness becomes their armor, weapon and self-care.

Readers familiar with Hurston’s work will note the continued signatures of her voice in these essays: the sassiness, the boldness to take to task those institutions or individuals who, in her mind, would exploit lesser-informed African Americans.