Only Martin's death calls Kassima and Robert back to love. Wideman's point is that art can make a stronger statement than polemic. Living and loving are more important than the question of race and 75 million lost souls. Loving your own community is more important than the question of race. Loving your own husband, son, or lover is more important than the issue of race.
Life is more important than the issue of race.
Two Cities is written from a woman's point of view. Violence whether it is artistic violence or physical violence is wrong. Wideman says women know this instinctually because like Kassima they have always been forced to bear witness to violence. Two Cties is Kassima's story about her being expected to go on living and loving after loving and giving so much and losing it all. Men experience loss and move on women experience loss and grieve on shying away from potential emotional gain.