rsh words. Next, instead of maintaining a job at the A&P like his father wishes, Cory wants to playfootball with hopes of earning a football scholarship to a college . Troy orders Cory tohold a job at the A&P as a first priority and play football as a second priority. Theconflict between Troy and Cory goes even deeper concerning Cory being recruited by ascout from North Carolina. Troy refuses to sign the permission statement in an effort tothwart Cory’s dream. Troy’s attitude is evident in his words, “...I don’t care where he[scout] coming from. The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that footballnoway. You go on and get your book learning so you can work yourself up in that A&Por learn how to fix cars...That way you have something can’t nobody take away fromyou...” In pleading, Cory mutters, “I get good grades, Pop. That’s why the recruiterwants to talk with you. You got to keep up your grades to get recruited. This way I’ll begoing to college. I’ll get a chance...” Troy deals with Cory in this way concerning sportsdue to his past experiences as a baseball player in the Negro leagues. Troy believes thathe was denied from playing in the major leagues due to his color. Although it mightappear that Troy just does not want Cory to surpass him in accomplishment and greatnessregarding sports, Troy is really trying to protect his son from getting hurt in the same waythat he had been. However, Troy does not reason with Cory and explain his actions butinstead, orders Cory around with verbal brutality. This sets up a huge “fence” betweenCory and his father because Cory sees Troy’s not signing the permission papers as aboulder crushing his dreams of college football to a pulp. Cory is driven to ask Troy,“How come you ain’t never liked me?”. Everything that Cory does is for Troy, in hope ofa simple “ Goo...
