" Paul stuck out his hand. Allow me to be your friend, Grant Wiggins. I don't ever want to forget this day.-(Gaines 255). Paul verbally states that he wants to be friends with Grant Wiggins a black man. It is made factual that Paul Bonin, a white man living in a racist town goes against the white beliefs at that time, and develops a close friendship with Grant and Jefferson, two black men.
The grade school teacher, Grant Wiggins sees the value of the slightest change, and how important it is for him to change his attitude towards Jefferson in order to change Jefferson's outlook on his life. For instance Grant wants to do nice things for Jefferson, seeing how he has less than couple of weeks left before his execution. " I can bring you ice cream anytime' - (Gaines 170). Grant was not always content, that he had to be the one put up with Jefferson's stubbornness but now he wants to help him overcome that, by doing nice things for him. Another example of how Grant has adapted to Jefferson would be when he gets mad in The Rainbow Club, the local Bayonne club. Grant over hears two men insulting Jefferson. " The tall one said something, and the fat one snickered, and I thought I had heard enough. I went up to their table. Shut up' I said- (Gaines 199). Grant was in an emotional changing state and was ready to fight with them. Grant now felt something for Jefferson that he did not want to feel before, and had no choice but to accept this feeling of wanting to help Jefferson. A final example that shows that Grant changes in his attitude towards Jefferson is the fact that he cares for him. " I went up to the desk and turned to face them. I was crying- (Gaines 256). This was at the end when everything was over and Jefferson was dead. Previously, Grant is hear saying, " I felt like crying, but I refused to cry. No, I would not cry. There were too many more who would end up as he did. I could not cry for all of them, could I?- (Gaines 249).
