Sophia, a “Negro-crazy” white woman, was Malcolm’s girl friend for several years. Because of Sophia, Malcolm jilted Laura — because Sophia was a status symbol in the ghetto world. Their affair continued for several years and ended only when they were arrested for burglary. The reader is never told what eventually happened to Sophia; perhaps Malcolm never knew. It is certain that he never cared.

Illicit sex was attractive to her, and the most illicit form of sex was interracial. Malcolm never elaborates upon his feelings for her beyond the fact that she was a status symbol. It seems as though he never had any feeling for her but contempt. Because he recognized her essential depravity, he could never have loved her. He was merely using her, as she was using him.