《比較文學：東方與西方（22 英文版）》：
　　actively and ethically stands against social domination and empowers black humanity in the global family. Believing that there was something in Shakespeare for everyone, changing his name from Cliff Jackson to Abshu to embrace the African heritage, and befriending a man with mixed origins, Abshu crosses cultural and racial boundaries and brings possibilities and resistance to Brewster Place.
　　Interestingly, Abshu shares similarities with the Biblical prophet Moses, as both of them are adopted by a wealthier family and raised by the " others", and both of them bear the responsibility to bring their people out of a place and lead them to their land of hope. In the last chapter "Dawn", Abshu sits alone on the empty street before the dawning of the demolition. He "walk[ s] into a rising sun" , and is the " [o] ne man against the dawning of the inevitable" (172) , signifying that he would eventually lead the recent homeless people from Brewster Place to build a new home and to find their own Canaan. Naylor places her hope of continuing the fight on Abshu, believing a progressive man like him could be a genuine leader for all of the black people.