In Nalo Hopkinson’s ‘Shift’, the author uses split dialogue perspectives for Ariel and Caliban in order to highlight the differences in how each character views themselves in the context of their African heritage. While Ariel chooses to embrace her African heritage through her dialect and adherence to her mother’s influence, Caliban turns away from his native culture and seeks refuge in the world of white women’s views of him. By juxtaposing these two characters against one another, Hopkinson establishes the idea that one’s blackness is not solely represented by how they view themselves in the context of black culture and heritage (as represented by Ariel) but also by how they view themselves through the perspective of white society (as represented by Caliban). Ariel and Caliban’s roles as foils to one another are explored through Hopkinson’s use of differing vernaculars, illustration of contrasting morals, and institution of the supernatural to represent differences in demeanor.