In the height of American racism, a small community decides to begin a new government called the Imperium. Griggs and Belgrade head the charge. The government is founded in response to the hypocrisy of the American government in its mistreatment of Black people, so they recruit well-educated Black folks to be in positions of power in their new government, and they immediately make education a priority, so that the damage done by restricting Black Americans from educations can be undone.
Griggs's politique is concerned with avoiding cults of personality. He gives speeches to the underground community about avoiding the kind of power that prioritizes one's self above the group. That is upsetting to Belgrade, because he likes the thought of running the show. Belgrade tries to usurp Grigg's authority and urges the community to go to war. The movement is quelled when Belton Piedmont steps forward to explain the absolute foolishness of the plan.
Piedmont explains that for white Americans, there will need to be a re-education as well, because they have grown weary of Black movements, especially Black militant movements (like this one, which in the formation of their nation has also formed a small militia). After Piedmont explains his point of view, Belgrade reasserts his plan to overthrow the state of Texas and establish their domain in Texas. He says Piedmont is a traitor to the cause and orders the others to murder him.
