4. We see Hattie work and be friends with many big names in Hollywood...

[smkelly]

We see Hattie work and be friends with many big names in Hollywood throughout the book. What did you think of Hattie’s relationships with these people and with Hollywood as a whole?

[Chay]

I think Hattie had a small circle of “true” friends. The other colleagues and “big names” in Hollywood were just associates (part of the business of “who’s who”). Hattie was a smart lady, she was friendly with her colleagues and associates and used that to her advantage. She was well aware that she was being frowned upon from both sides in show business and she seemed to avoid conflict whenever she could to keep the peace.

[Reading4Fun]

Hattie seems to not have as many friends as she did coworkers and acquaintance's. She did find true friendship with telulah and ruby as well as some others but most people that surrounded her talked down and laughed behind her back.

[Bbaker12jo]

I saw this as one of Hatties greatest roles. If you would have not worked so hard to befriend so many big names in Hollywood she would not have been able to break the white/black wall. In a time when African-American is seen as less than, she said, I am human, I am important, I have feelings, I am equal, without saying anything at all. By building friendship she was able to "show" the world all of these things.