When the narrator finally relays the whirlwind of events that took place at Jim Trueblood’s cabin and the Golden Day to Bledsoe, his response was strikingly similar to the narrator's grandfather's dying wish. On his deathbed, the narrator’s grandfather pleads “I want you to overcome ‘em with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction, let ‘em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open.”(16). The wise man’s advice to his children and grandchildren is to act as a “spy” towards white people- basically do what they say but do not let them corrupt your mind.
Subsequently, Mr. Bledsoe’s argues “[Norton] ordered you. Dammit, white folk are always giving orders, it's a habit with them. Why didn't you make an excuse?...you're black living in the South-did you forget how to lie?”(139). Bledsoe believes that as a black man, the narrator should not let white people believe they are superior and order him around- similar to his grandfather’s final wish. Since the narrator views Mr. Norton as a God, as explained by the vet and the Golden Day, he is willing to do anything Norton demands. By being a puppet to Mr. Norton and other “superiors” the narrator is not fulfilling his grandfather’s dying wish.
The older African Americans,such as the narrator’s grandfather and Mr. Bledsoe, in the novel try to instill values within young citizens, such as the narrator and the other students at the college, so they can succeed without being looked down upon by Caucasian people. The wise men want the future generations to be able to accomplish anything, such as Mr. Bledsoe’s inspiring journey to becoming the president of the college.
The ultimate goal for the students at the college is to become educated in order to increase their social status. One way to do so is to not let white people “control” young kids minds.
Important that you mention that they are going to college to increase their social status and not to fall deeper under the oppression of the whites. The narrator obviously wants to do what he thinks is respectable, but seems to not realize that by feeding into the already privileged reputation is only boosting that ego. I like how you incorporated the views of Bledsoe and the narrator's grandfather as well!
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