The book is structured around Joshua Shine Jones, who falls in love with Linda, a maid working for Agatha Cramp. Ralph Merrit is an African-American counsel who purchases a house in a white-dominated neighborhood. Although he is an African-American, Merrit has a light complexion making people think he is white. Most of the neighbors do not know whether he is black. Eventually, people realize Merrit is black. However, one day his house is set ablaze by Patmore. The incident creates tension between whites and blacks. In due course, it is discovered that the house was set ablaze by a black man, who uses to be Merrit’s adversary.
The conflict between upper class, mostly whites, and lower class, primarily blacks, is evident in the book. Blacks feel that whites are undermining them. African-Americans experience discrimination and prejudice. Such an experience have resulted in Blacks having a negative attitude towards whites. Even when whites show the right attitude toward Blacks, they still remain suspicious. Their behavior and lifestyle are different.
Moreover, differences emerge between upper-class blacks, “dicktiess”, and lower-class blacks, “rats”. Lower class blacks think that upper-class blacks are undermining them. Lower class blacks believed that Negroes with superior education and good employment matched whites. Among Africa-Americans, some were counsels, doctors, and teachers. These blacks were considered superior within the African-American community. Lower class blacks had a negative attitude towards upper-class blacks. The behavior and lifestyle of these two groups were different.
