et angry to fight back, but then gives up. He knows that Richard will not give up. He starts to cry, and says to Richard, You think youre a man, but youll learn, and youll learn the hard way, I wish I could be an example to you. Although Richard resents the way Uncle Tom acts towards him, Uncle Tom is only trying to do it for Richards benefit. Uncle Tom is trying to teach Richard how he should act towards a white man, because Richard does not know how to act, and does not know his place in society as a Black Boy. Richard does not talk to Uncle Tom anymore. Richard also fails to find manhood to emulate in Uncle Hoskins. One day while Richard was living with his Aunt Maggie, Uncle Hoskins decides to take him out on the buggy. When they are in the buggy, they approach a river. The horse begins to go into the river, as Richard yells, The rivers deep! Uncle Hoskins says, The horse has to drink. Richard is very frightened as the buggy goes deeper into the water, and struggles to escape the buggy. When they get farther into the water, the buggy is still safe, and they are fine. Richard is still scared and demands to be let out. Uncle Hoskins did not tell Richard that there is, Stone and brick way down under that water. You could wade out half a mile and it would not come over your head. He does not tell Richard this, because he is trying to scare Richard into realizing he is not as tough as he thinks he is. After that Richard says, I never trusted him after that. Whenever I saw his face the memory of the terror upon the river would come back. Once again Richard does not realize that his uncle is trying to teach him his place in society as a black boy, and does not like Uncle Hoskins anymore. The first time we see the whites, feeling of superiority towards blacks, is when Richard comes upon a gang of white boys. When he is walking to the grocery store, he saysThey came toward me and I broke into a wild run toward home....
