Thomas builds upon a rich tradition of African American folklore to demonstrate the importance of heritage and cultural identity. Just as these stories were passed down orally from generation to generation before they were written down, Calvin shares these tales and their lessons with his daughter. For example, the Southern folktale “Wiley and the Hairy Man” teaches the importance of facing one’s fears and fighting with cleverness. Nic applies this by outwitting Hairy Man Junior and by refusing to give up no matter how daunting the quest for the Msaidizi becomes. Having the protagonist utilize her knowledge of the original Hairy Man story to trick the shapeshifter’s son emphasizes the importance of cultural identity. The author also incorporates High John, a folk hero celebrated by Zora Neale Hurston in “High John de Conquer”: “Using his powers as a Shapeshifter and a Prophet, he’d give other enslaved people hope with his prophecies about freedom and his stories about the legendary tricks he’d pull on slave masters” (162). As this passage illustrates, High John’s stories communicate the importance of resisting injustice. Similarly, Nic is a heroine who fights for justice by disproving the false accusations against her father.