Summary

This chapter explains C.P.’s reaction to the civil rights activism in Durham during the 1960’s. Just driving around town, C.P. regularly witnessed sit-ins and protests. Like most whites, he was shocked and shaken by this avalanche of disorder, protest and chaos. The Old South was dissolving before his eyes and it greatly disturbed him. He was extremely threatened by thoughts of integration between blacks and whites. In particular, seeing white women who joined the sit-ins standing with black men and holding their hands was repulsive. C.P. listened to and accepted the fearful rhetoric that integrating public schools would lead to interracial marriages, thus diluting the white race.

C.P.’s job situation improved, as through some good fortune, he bought his own gas station. Suddenly, he was a small business owner. At first, C.P. enjoyed this life as he...