Chapter 13 includes several events that directly contradict the invisibility of the invisible man. The chapter opens with Tim in Mary's house. Frustrated and depressed, Tim rushes from the house and wanders into the slums. While strolling down the streets Tim encounters a vendor selling baked yams. The aroma of the baking yams reminds Tim of childhood episodes in which he and his friends would snack on yams baked by their mothers. Hungry and homesick, Tim decides to buy a few yams. After buying the yams Tim continues walking down the street. During this time Tim experiences a brief daydream. In this dream he encounters Dr. Bledsoe on the street. Tim, upon seeing Bledsoe, becomes extremely angry and violently rubs a yam in Bledsoe's face. After this experience, he proceeds to call Bledsoe names such as "an eater of chitterlings." As the dream fades out, Tim comes upon a new scenario. In this scene, Tim witnesses an elderly couple being evicted from their apartment by several white men. A crowd has gathered around the scene and begins criticizing the evictors. Before long, the crowd becomes violent and several people begin to threaten the evictors. The Marshal (the head of the evictors) draws a gun and threatens to shoot. Unlike his behavior in previous chapters, Tim responds very actively to the situation. As the crowd surges forward toward the marshal, Tim leaps to an adjacent staircase and yells at the crowd. He yells "we are peaceable people, slow to anger people." At first, the crowd is stunned and taken aback by his words. However, the feeling of enmity towards the evictors soon overcomes the influence of Tim's words. The crowd rushes over the marshal and takes him captive. They then proceed to beat him and kick him. Seconds later, the police arrive on the scene; much of the crowd disperses at the sight of the police but a few stay. Tim begins running from the scene. However, after running a short distance, he notices a small dark figure pursuing him. Thinking that it is a police officer, Tim continues his vigorous pace. Eventually however, Tim is intercepted by the figure who turns out to be a member of the illustrious brotherhood. After a short dialogue in a coffee shop, Tim's pursuer invites him to join the brotherhood. The chapter concludes with Tim's leaving the coffee shop, returning to Mary's home.

by Nate Dougan