I think the passage on page 141 to 143 is more or less just giving a "feel" of Cholly's upbringing and to familiarize the reader with Cholly's character a bit more. I noticed in this book that Morrison tends to give a shine to the negative and positive characteristics of alot of the characters. I believe it was Claudia's mother who at first we were lead to believe she was a mean spirited woman but then Morrison incoorporates her good side and shows that that mean spiritness is actually just a strict mother and that she loves her children very much.
I think at this point Morrison has portrayed Cholly's character very negatively and disgusting. By the way of his actions I dont believe it is possible to turn the view of Cholly to the reader anymore, nor do I quite believe that is what Morrison is trying to do. I believe she is just trying to give the reader the second side of the story in a way. I think she is trying to get us to maybe understand what has happened in his life as well that may have turned him into the character he has been portrayed to be. I dont believe she wants us to sympathize because at the end of the day everyone is accountable for their own actions and what he did to his daughter is unforgiving, I think maybe she is showing us an understanding of him and that he was not always this horrid person.