Growing up in a middle-class Boston community, Marita Bonner experienced racial segregation firsthand. While attending school, she was denied certain opportunities, such as housing and access to clubs, because of her race and gender. She channeled her experiences into her writing, which depicted the limited opportunities for upward mobility that affected African Americans and women in particular. Bonner contributed in various ways to the Harlem Renaissance, but her writings primarily addressed the struggles of Black people who lived outside of Harlem to form a strong racial and gender identity. While being outspoken herself through her writing, she advised Black women to remain silent to gain the understanding, knowledge, and truth necessary to fight racial and gender oppression.