Blog Post 2

            The brawl at the Golden Day exemplifies not only the racial tensions present at the time, but also some of the social tensions of the post-world war ii era. The presence of a rich white man causes some to throw sardonic comments, like how Mr. Norton is “Thomas Jefferson,” (77) “John D. Rockefeller,” (78) and even “the Messiah” (78). The bitterness and resentment of the black veterans is overly present here, as it was the rich white men that sent them to war. “These forgotten men built airfields, cleared mines, unloaded ships, maintained roads and rail lines, served as medics and drove the trucks that supplied the armies.” (Colley, http://www.historynet.com/african-american-platoons-in-world-war-ii.htm). The black veterans received no glory and no honor having served, and thus the health of Mr. Norton was not of high concern to them – “he’s only a man!” (86).

            The brawl also represents the animosity present within the black race – they were not a unit, they were separate men trying to “charge [their] batteries,” (81) and thus have no respect. The order attempted from Supercargo had no effect once he was out of his white uniform, as the men almost immediately charged him. This sparked the brawl, and caused the narrator to have “such an excitement that [he wanted] to join” (84). This reflects back to his time in the ring as entertainment for the white man, and his restraint shows his growth from then. He acts civilized and attempts to care for the schools trustee, for he knows that both their intertwined destinies are worth more than a physical fight – they are worth a fight through time. Their dreams will be earned in decades, not in a well placed fist.