Part Six begins in Harlem, New York. It is August 1994. Malcolm Lewis is the fifteen-year-old grandson of Richard and Harriet Lewis, and the great-grandson of Elijah and Goldie Lewis. Luvenia Lewis is his great-aunt. Malcolm is a talented musician, playing the alto-flute and the saxophone in a band called String Theory. When he is not in school, Malcolm helps out at Mahogany Beauty Products, his great-aunt Luvenia’s cosmetics chain. When white cosmetic companies started selling make-up for black women, Luvenia branched out into real estate and travel.

Malcolm’s story begins when a telephone call from his great-aunt Luvenia wakes him from a dream. She is on her way to Curry Island for the Lewis family reunion at the Glory Field. She is calling at Malcolm’s home in Harlem to talk to him before she leaves. Malcolm’s parents, Charles and Celia, have already left for the reunion, as has his sister. As he wakes, Malcolm remembers he also has a young woman, Jenn Che Po, calling to audition for his band.

Jenn arrives; she plays the amplified cello, and turns out to be very talented. Malcolm invites her to play for the band.