"John Henry, he took her on home then headed back for his own place, but evidently them men caught up with him and Beacon again and starts rammin’ the back of they car— least that’s what Beacon and John Henry told they aunt and uncle when they seed ’em. John Henry knowed he was runnin’ outa gas and he was ’fraid he couldn’t make it to his own place, so he stopped at his uncle’s. But them men dragged him and Beacon both outa that house, and when old man Berry tried to stop it, they lit him afire with them boys.”

"Little Man, chest-deep in water, scooped up a handful of mud and in an uncontrollable rage scrambled up to the road and ran after the retreating bus. As moronic rolls of laughter and cries of “Nigger! Nigger! Mud eater!”

"At church the next morning, Mrs. Silas Lanier leaned across me and whispered to Big Ma, “John Henry Berry died last night.” When the announcement was made to the congrega- tion, the deacons2 prayed for the soul of John Henry Berry and the recovery of his brother, Beacon, and his uncle, Mr. Samuel Berry. "

Community

Clique

Group

A whole group of people in a small town, who split in rivalry of each other.