ommunist Party. They are delighted to hear that Bigger didn't want to eat with Jan and Mary at Ernie's. They wanted to print an article using Bigger to "prove" that the "primitive Negro" doesn't want to be "disturbed by white civilization.” Though they are the ones being fooled by Bigger’s role playing in which he can use to protect himself, due to their racism. Mr. Dalton’s real estate company charges homeowners in the black belt, an exhorborant amount for run down. apartments. Most of the people who own these homes barely get by each day, having the responsibilies of providing for their families and for themselves. Mr. Dalton shows everyone on paper that he is a great man who donates to the NAACP with ping-pong tables. Wright shows clearly that he is a “skumbag”, who is only taking advantage of the people who don’t realize what he is doing. Mary Dalton seemed dangerously not aware to the social codes that drew a strict boundary between white women and black men. Black men have been lynched for so little as looking at a white woman, and Mary behaves as if those social codes are merely silly prejudices to ignore. She does not realize the deadly consequences her actions could have for Bigger. Jan increases Bigger's terror, anger, and shame by ignoring the social codes as well. Mary and Jan's attempts to treat Bigger like an equal merely dismay him. “Look, Bigger. We want one of those places where colored people eat, not one of those show places.” (p. 69) Although they are content to ignore the racist rules of conduct, Bigger does have reasons to fear and distrust their gesture. Other white people would be angered to see Bigger shake a white man's hand and call him by his first name. Other white people would be furious to see Bigger sitting in the front seat with Mary. Moreover, Bigger has learned to distrust the seemingly kind gestures of white people. Bigger is in a peculiar posi...
