The story has many symbols throughout that relate to the moral in many different ways. ... The author uses the blonde white woman, a rug, constant lies by the white man, and other symbols to show the various hardships that the narrator must endure, in his quest to deliver his speech, and all are representative of the many hardships that blacks went through and go through now in a fight for equality. ... This is symbolic of the black race" fight for equality and how uneducated or inexperienced blacks are easily misled by white people. ... The rug is another important symbol in the story. ......

• Word Count: 1103
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Inside the black race dwells an unspoken division as well. Lighter-skinned blacks in this story act superior to darker-skinned blacks. ... The river discussed at the beginning of the story is a symbol of the human spirit. ... Another important symbol in the story is the black stallion. ... A third and less apparent symbol in this story is a flint used by a young boy named Ned. ...

• Word Count: 1101
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The economic conditions of the time made it hard for black men to earn respect. Dave's black tenant family works for a white landowner, Mr. ... Wright clearly develops the gun as a masculine, sexual symbol which will substitute for Dave's and his father's appropriated "manhood," which is a metaphor for economic security and self-sufficiency. ... He asks Joe, the white store manager, if he can borrow the Sears catalogue, the symbol of Hawkins's control over the commodities available to his tenants. ... The story ends with a kindly white man being cheated out of $50 and Dave,...

• Word Count: 973
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School