hard becomes interested in H.L. Mencken. He borrows a library card from an Irish-Catholic named Mr. Falk and enters into the realm of literature. Soon, Richard decides to leave for the North. When Aunt Maggie comes down for a visit, she leaves with Richard for Chicago. In Chicago, obtains a job at a delicatessen owned by a Jewish couple: Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman. Richard, tuned by the conditions of life in the South, cannot act naturally with the Hoffmans, lying to them and eventually leaving his job. Richard then is employed as a postal clerk, where he meets an Irish fellow whom he can relate to. He is eventually introduced into a literary circle where several of the members are in the Communist Party. Richard joins the John Reed Club a Communist organization for the arts in hopes of learning to write and publish. Due to inter-club politics, Richard is elected as the executive secretary of the club. One day, a man by the title of Comrade Young joins the Chicago club, claiming to be from Detroit. He wins the trust of the elder members, and then makes accusations against another club member claiming the other is a Trotskyite traitor. When Young disappears, Richard learns that he is an escaped mental patient. Meanwhile, the Party has decided to disband the John Reed Clubs. At the national meeting in New York, where members will discuss the dissolving of the clubs, Richard is unable to find a room to stay in because he is black. In order to humanize the Communist Party to the common black man, Richard decides to do a book of autobiographical sketches. He interviews a member named Ross for the book. Ross, however, has been charged with inciting to riot and is also accused later of being a traitor. Higher-ranking members, such as Ed Green and Buddy Nealson, begin to suspect Richard of the same crimes. Richard becomes disillusioned with the Party's goals, and tries to sever all relations with the party. He is invited back to witness Ross's tri...
