As TIM returns to his apartment, he pulls out the Sambo Doll, one of the many that Clifton was selling before his death. As TIM looks at it, he wonders how this insignificant doll could be the cause of his friend's death. TIM yells at the doll, commanding it to dance, as it did for Tod. Only then does TIM see the nearly invisible string attached to the doll. As TIM puts the string's loop around his finger, the doll begins to dance.

This string on the doll is an important symbol. Ellison puts this analogy of the doll in here as a representative of the black community. The string represents their blindfolds with the white community yanking on them, making the blacks do as they please. The black community obeys, because they are "blindfolded." The invisible string is yet another reference to the theme of invisibility.

Therefore, as TIM figures the doll out, he puts away in bitter disgust. A few people visit him to verify Clifton's death. TIM merely scares them away. He tries to contact the Brotherhood to see about arrangements for Clifton's funeral. Unable to contact anybody, TIM decides to take the matter up into his own hands. He makes all of the necessary arrangements and holds the funeral on that Saturday.

Ellison takes a while to describe the funeral procession. Many people have hung black banners on their porches commemorating his death. TIM leads the procession many miles through Harlem, first through the poor section, and then into the rich section. Finally, they reach the cemetery. As the procession grows, TIM wonders why the people are there. Did they join because they knew Clifton? Or was it simply to be a part of the crowd?

Here, the people expect TIM to give the eulogy although TIM has made no plans to do so. But pressured by the crowd, he begins slowly, and then builds up the momentum. By the use of the phrase, "His name was Clifton, Tod Clifton, and they shot him down," TIM is able to stir up the people by the same trick that Martin Luther King, Jr. utilized in his "I have a dream" speech. The speech is moving, and its tone is very against the white community in Harlem.

As he finishes and the people disperse, TIM takes a moment to reflect on the day. He realizes that, like batteries, the people are charged up. He also realizes that if he plans to do anything, he needs to take advantage of this moment while the people still have energy. Therefore, at the close of Chapter 21, he resolves to do something, before he loses the opportunity.

Characters
TIM: he leads the funeral procession Crowd: they follow TIM and cheer him on to give a eulogy Clifton: dead brother in the casket

Setting
The setting of this chapter is in the streets of Harlem at the beginning. This is when TIM is winding through the city with the procession, starting in the poor side and ending up in the richer part. The final setting is in the cemetery where TIM gives his eulogy to the crowd.

Quotations
"Brother Tod Clifton Our Hope Shot Down" (450): This was the message on the banners which people draped outside on their balconies.

"Why were they here? Why had they found us? Because they knew Clifton? Or for the occasion his death gave them to express their protestations, a time and place to come together, to stand touching and sweating and breathing and looking in a common direction? Was either explanation adequate in itself? Did it signify love or politicalized hate? And could politics ever be an expression of love?" (452): TIM relfects on why there was a crowd and suddenly becomes paranoid and somewhat morbid.

Themes Death: Brother Clifton is dead
Anticipation: TIM leads the crowd around the city, in anticipation of the cemetery. TIM holds the crown in anticipation of this eulogy. The chapter ends in anticipation of what TIM will do.