Men have their place in “Kin,” but women set the tone: colorful, pragmatic and above all honest. Irene has a winning penchant for telling young Niecy uncomfortable truths, like that she’s better off than Annie because Annie holds out hope of her mother’s return: “Over time, the daily discouragement will wear her down, like the heel on a loafer,” she says to Niecy. “You are the fortunate one. You know you won’t see your mama’s face ’til Gabriel blows his horn.” Annie’s grandmother spares Annie no illusions about a family reunion, describing Annie’s absent mother (and her own youngest child) as “salting the fields on her way out.”