As he walks through the streets, the theme of white supremacy is employed. He passes windows advertising products to change people's appearances, such as hair and skin color. One sign proclaims, "You too can be truly beautiful...win greater happiness with whiter complexion. Be outstanding in your social set" (262). Next, TIM is led back to old memories when he inhales the sweet smell of freshly cooked yams. TIM purchases a yam, and it is here where an important phase takes place. TIM eats the yam while he is walking the streets. He does not find it necessary to eat the yam while in seclusion or while sitting down. He proudly claims that, "I no longer felt ashamed of things I had always loved" (264). He has become comfortable with himself regardless of what others think about him.
As TIM is walking and enjoying his meal, he suddenly bites into a hard portion of the yam, foreshadowing the upcoming of a negative event.
TIM becomes the witness of the eviction of an old black couple. A crowd has accumulated, and as the eviction continues, the anger among the crowd is mounting.
Just as the crowd is about to charge the evictors, who are armed with guns, TIM confronts them and attempts to persuade them that their actions are wrong. He preaches that they are, "a law-abiding people and a slow-to-anger people..." (275). In a rather moving and emotional speech, the crowd is unified in their objective and, under the leadership of TIM, the evicted items are replaced back to their original setting; they are placed back inside the old couple's apartment.
The police arrive to the scene and question the crowd about the situation. TIM, fearing the possibility of going to prison for the outcome of his words, and yet somewhat amused by the ignorance of the police, answers, "We've...we've been cleaning the sidewalk of a lot of junk... It's a clean-up campaign..." (283). As the situation intensifies, TIM is unable to hold up and heads back into the apartment searching for a way to escape. He is confronted by a young white female who calls him "brother" and praises his speech. She also tells him of an escape route which leads him to the roof of the apartment. She claims that this is the only way to elude the police in order to, "remain unknown by the police" (284).
As he runs across roof tops, he notices a figure following behind him--chasing him. He presumes the man to be a cop, yet the man nor shouts nor pulls out a gun. He shows no signs of any attempt to stop TIM.
Once in the clear, so he thinks, a man comes up behind TIM and says, "That was a masterful bit of persuasion, brother" (285). Confused, TIM attempts to approach the odd situation by denying the whole episode. The man claims to be a friend and also mentions his admiration of TIM's speech. They go into a coffee shop where they can talk more privately.
The man is named Brother Jack, a short insignificant bushy-eyebrowed, white man with red hair. He offers TIM a job where he will make speeches, as the one he had made earlier at the eviction, when TIM coldly refuses. Nevertheless, Brother Jack gives TIM a slip of paper with a number on it in case TIM changes his mind.
Tying into the theme of TIM's having no name, Brother Jack does not ask for his name should he make the call. He simply says that TIM, "needn't give me your name, just mention our conversation" (293).
Symbolism
TIM’s encounter with the freshly cooked yams is a symbol which links both past and present. As he savors the taste, he also savors the memories associated with the yams. He can place himself in two different worlds and a new truth is revealed; he has changed. Now he roams the streets freely without much conscience.
