1. Quicksand
2. The author of the story is Nella Larsen
3. ” The great community, she thought, was no longer a school. It had grown into a machine. It was now a show place in the black belt, exemplification of the Whiteman’s magnanimity, refutation of the black man’s inefficiency. Life had died out of it”.
4. This quote examines how Helga comes to the realization that it did not matter how educated and well mannered you become, there is still the notion of the African-American race still being limited. She understands that they are being oppressed. This the beginning where Helga throughout the story, dabbles into her not being able to see where she truly thinks she fits in, despite being mixed race.
I think its interesting how she compares the school to “machine”. I feel like Larsen is trying to show the cold, mechanical feel of the school compare to the warmness she hoped would be there. I definitely agree with you that this has to do with the oppression she felt she saw all around at the time.