The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-06-27
,. seHss " SON s #si +,

Many -
~ street corners with them and talked on white
as long sleek cars zoomed past. To Bigger
S. tind-white people were not really people;
-sre sort of great natural force. like stormy
|ooming overhead or like deep swirling river
XAng suddenly at ones feet In the dark. As
ss he and HE black folks did not go beyond GER
limits there was no need TO fear that white
But whether they feared 1t or not, each and
day Of their lives they lived with II; even when
did NOT sound its name. they acknowledged
kalty As long as they lived here in the pre-
IA corner OF the city. they paid mute tribute 10
here were rare moments when feeling and
me- for solidarity with other black people would
hold OF him. He would dream OF making
against that white force, but that dream would
when he looked at the other black people near
| Even though black like them, he felt there was
nueh difference between him and them to allow
\ common binding and a common life. Only
! threatened with death could that happen; only
ar and shame, with their backs against a wall,
that happen. But never could they sink their
fence in hope.
he rode looking at the black people on the
galks he felt that one way to end fear and shame
70 make all those black people act together. rule
\ tell them what TO do, and make them do IL.
~ he felt that there should be one direction
hKh he and all other black people could so
eheartedy. that there should be way in
gnawng hunger and restless aspiration could
vd; that there should be a manner OF acting
Taught the mind and body In certainty and faith.
.he felt tha, such would never happen to him
Dis black people. and he hated them and want
= wave his hand and blot them out. Yet. he
hoped, vaguely. OF late he had liked to hear
|oi men who could rule others, for In actions
as these he felt that there was way TO escape
his fqh Of far cha n
|a the base OF his life. He liked to hear how
p was conquering China: OF how Hitler was
Ping the Jews to the ground OF how Mussolini
invading Spain. He was not concerned with
|her these acts were right or wrong: they sim
appealed TO him as possible avenues OF escape.
Fet that some day there would be black man
would whip the black people into tight band
together they would act and end fear and shame.
lever thought OF this in precise mental images;
Pr Il; he would weel II for while and then for
But hope was always waiting somewhere deep
p in him.
was fear that had made him fight Gus in the
Foom. II he had felt certain OF himself and OF
De would not have fought But he knew Gus.
knew himself, and he knew that one OF them
n iail through fear at the decisive moment.
could he think OF going to rob Blum's that
he distrusted and feared Cue and he knew
Gus disirusted and feared him; and the moment
pea to band himself and Gus together TO do
E.nhg ne would hate Gus and himself Ulti-
|y, though, his hate and hope turned outward
himself TO Gus: his hope toward vague benev-
something that would help and lead him. and
lae toward the whites; for he felt that they rul-
Nm' even when they were far away and not think
q him. ruled him conditioning him in his rela-
Win his own people.
ne street car crawled through the snow; Drexel
e'ard was the next stop. He lifted the SUIT
ana stood at the door. In few minutes ha
u Know II Mary had burned. The car stopped:
Nung of and walked through the snow as deep
: ankles, heading for Daltons.
men he got TO the driveway he saw that the car
Standing just as he had left II, but all covered
soft coat of snow. The house looked white and
" lie Unmatched the gate and went past the
seeing before his eyes an image OF Mary. her
" neck just inside the furnace and her head
ls curly black hair lying upon the soggy news
~ ne paused. He could turn round now and
'vA' lie could get into the car and be miles from
before anybody knew 1t. But why run away
= :, mere was good reason? He had some money
she run for 1t when the time came. And he
ais gum His fingers trembled So that he had
sr NY ~ unlocking the door; but they were not
mug from fear. II was kind OF eagerness he
= 'ohnuence, fulness, a freedom; his whole life
,s sassn' up In supreme and meanngful act
.snSu the door in, then was stonestIll, sucking
IAN IN softly In the red glare OF the furnace
A. .-,,o"y hkuIe. is tndt MRS. DaltOh! Dut
% amer and stouter than Mrs. Dalton. oh, II
'' ss She stood with her back TO him. little
S one seemed to be peering hard into the fur
oa one oidn't hear me come In, he thought. May
"a Sus s 10 go! But before he could move Peggy
pu' good morning, Bigger" He did not answer.
:, siao you came. was just about TO put
-, vOal into the furnace"
u FIX H. man."
: .sme forward, strainins his eyes to see II any
"a " Mary were In the furnace. when he
lsS rsessys side he saw that she was staring
Goals 80 WV - '-o
nj. nre was very hot last night" Peggy said.
-, morning II got low"
!. ~. nx IT, Bigger said. standing and not daring
i A sue uoor of the furnace while she stood there
~ I'm .n IN the red darkness. He heard the dull
,usrn us araft going upwards and wondered u
', .ss anything He knew that he should
I'M, , rs on the light; but what II he did and
rn 's'eaieu parts OF Mary IN the furnacey
n,,n ~ ": man" he said again.
a. w ne wondered n he would have 10 kill her
~ hsr nom telling II abe turned on the Hight