The boy in the story was in what seemed to be a lose, lose situation. If he were to listen to his grandfathers advice and be outspoken for equality than dangerous results could follow. But if he allows himself to be belittled and not stand up for what he believes in, then he may never see true freedom. For example the part in the story when he is giving his speech in front of all the white men and cannot seem to say or do what he really wants to. “Well, you had better speak more slowly so we can understand. We mean to do right by you, but you’ve got to know your place at all times. All right, now, go on with your speech.”(pg.302). Like a warden in fear of his prison being overrun by the prisoners, the white men were in fear of letting that young boy mention anything of social equality.
Fear is the greatest power a person or group in a dominant position can have against the weak. Hope is the best thing to counteract fear and they could not allow it. The white men preferred him to be a little robot that just follows order and stays within the boundaries that they decide. It’s because of leaders like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Booker T. Washington and Frederick