(200). By giving this speech he keeps the whites thinking that he knows his place, which is below them. He was invited to give his speech in front of some successful white townsmen, or at least that's all he thought it was going to be. When he got there he found out that he would be taken part in theBattle Royal.? Taking part of this event made him a little uncomfortable because of the fact that the other black men didn't like him much already and he also knew that they didn't have a Grandfather's curse in them. (199). He's doing this fight because the White men told him to, and the blacks no that the whites have power, that they make the decisions in life. So they do what they are told; and the young man also has to keep them happy so they let him give his speech. Even though this man was put into the ring with all these men who beat each other up, and the white men laughing and yelling, he still is thinking about his speech. He wonder's if he is still going to be able to give his speech, and if they?d recognize his ability and what they would give him. (203). He felt that the only one's who could truly judge his abilities where these high powered townsmen. (204). When the other men had left the ring and it was just him and the big man, he was truly trying to win the fight, because he believed that it was only Tatlock who stood in the way of him giving his speech. He was feeling confident that he had this thing won until he heard a voice from the crowd that had yelled,I got my money on the big boy.? The young man was confused at this time, he didn't know whether or not if he should try to win in spite of the voice. (204). He lost because of his confusion, and because of him being scared to go against the white's, even though it would have been better for him. But that is what his Grandfather did too; he agreed to do what white's told him to do, because playing their game is the only way to do it.
