The Only Use of
genuflect
in
The Bluest Eye
- Black boys didn't trip her in the halls; white boys didn't stone her, white girls didn't suck their teeth when she was assigned to be their work partners; black girls stepped aside when she wanted to use the sink in the girls' toilet, and their eyes genuflected under sliding lids.†
Chpt 3
Definition:
to demonstrate respect by bending one or both knees to the ground
or:
to grovel (show excessive deference or servile respect)
or:
to grovel (show excessive deference or servile respect)