He cannot gain their trust, and, since they are the first people he has opened his heart to, he feels more isolated than ever before. The work he gets from government relief stations has left him and his family barely subsisting. He begins work at the South Side Boy's Club. 340 and Richard is ordered to stay away from him. Since Richard has done nothing wrong, he refuses to submit to the will of the party.
Party members grow more and more angry.
Working at the Club, he meets many young, violent, alienated black boys who, he feels sure, are far from understood by Communists. Richard tries to support creative work within the party, but his suggestions are rejected. He sees that the John Reed Club is no longer unified enough to continue, and votes to dissolve it, which is viewed as treason. Everyone suspects him now. At a national Club conference, Richard meets many people who feel as he does, but who are afraid to speak out.