As the chapter commences, IMAN heads for his first assignment in a taxi full with veteran members of the organization. During his free time between the arrival and the actual beginning of the rally, IMAN thinks about how he is different and how his new identity is more than just a name. Earlier in the evening, he is told to listen to the other speeches preceding his to get ideas of what to say since he does not have anything previously prepared; however, he spends his free time exploring and thinking while the other Brothers discuss what to say. Upon his return, the other men finish up their discussion, and it is time to start.

They walk out in to the roaring arena and take their places. Speeches are given, and soon it is time for IMAN to give his speech. Although he does not start out very smoothly, he recovers and soon the crowd is loving the words that IMAN speaks. Nearing the end of what he has to say, there is a silence and he is speechless. He takes that opportunity to relate to this crowd about how he is changing inside, even as he stands before them. He finishes off strong and while he exits the stage, the audience is pumped.

The Brothers leave the stage and soon find out that not everyone enjoyed what IMAN had to say. Unfortunately for IMAN, one of the men is the old guy with the pipe that is very important in the organization. He says that IMAN went in the opposite direction of where they want to go. Brother Jack tries to defend IMAN but is unsuccessful, and in the end they advise IMAN to visit Brother Hambro. Brother Hambro would teach him more about the beliefs of the organization so that next time IMAN's speech would accurately reflect the doctrines of the Brotherhood.

Later that night, IMAN dreams about his past and different things that have influenced him so far. He dreams about Norton and Bledsoe and says, "By kicking me into the dark they'd made me see the possibility of achieving something greater and more important than I'd ever dreamed."

During his free time preceding the rally, he walks out into the alley and sees three white men and three black horses. He sees them only a moment and as he is returning to the arena, one of the black horses escapes and runs off into the distance. The horse escaping from bondage parallels a slave or a black man who is restrained socially or mentally by the white man. In this sequence, Ellison uses skin color and animals as motifs.

Later in the chapter, the use of light is manipulated to convey the theme of blindness.

In this chapter, IMAN finds two instances of blindness. The first is a poster showing a black boxer who was blinded while fighting a match at the arena. This can easily be compared to the Battle Royal in which black men fought gruesomely while blind. The theme of blindness is also approached as IMAN enters the audience at the arena and is blinded by the spotlight. A man close to him sees this and says, "It always happens this first time." This hits on the idea that IMAN is blinded by the brotherhood and that at first he can see that he is blind but after that he does not even notice.

Following his speech, IMAN is pumped because he thinks he has done a great job. His joy is destroyed when the man with the pipe reveals that the speech did not help but hurt them. The pride that IMAN scarcely obtains is destroyed, and humility settles back in.

There are no new significant characters mentioned in this chapter

by Eddie McClelland