Chapter 6 is located on pages 136-150 in the text. This chapter begins with Iman's avoiding the trip to Dr. Bledsoe's office. After Rev. Barbee's speech, Iman walks the campus before going to Dr. Bledsoe's office. At the office, Bledsoe severely reprimands Iman for taking Mr. Norton to the place that he did. He tells Iman that white people give orders and are only happy when blacks lie to them about why they cannot follow the orders. Iman becomes enraged after Bledsoe expels him, and he tells Bledsoe that he would fight everyone to maintain in the school. Bledsoe, however, claims that he is the king and that no matter what Iman does to prove his innocence, Bledsoe could make him guilty by only saying he was. The expulsion leads to Iman's banishment to New York where he has to earn enough money to pay for the next year at the school. As Iman leaves for the bus station, Bledsoe has his secretary type seven letters that he claims will help Iman get a job in New York. The setting for this chapter is in Dr. Bledsoe's office and in Iman's dorm room when he packs to leave.

Many themes are present in this chapter. The most predominant is the one of power. Dr. Bledsoe uses his power to belittle Iman and to expel him from the school. In doing this, he also claims that he has power over the white men as well. Another theme present is betrayal. Dr. Bledsoe betrays Iman through his decision to expel him. Instead of believing one of his students and someone from his own race, Bledsoe turns his back on Iman and banishes him. The theme of running is also exhibited. Dr. Bledsoe gives Iman two days to leave the school; however, Iman leaves on the first bus the very next morning. The last theme used in this chapter is humility. Iman is embarrassed by his expulsion. When Dr. Bledsoe asks if he has contacted his parents, Iman tells him that he will not until he gets to New York. He is ashamed and humiliated for doing what appears to be the right things.

A few motifs appear in this chapter. The first is one of touching. While Dr. Bledsoe lectures Iman, he continually feels his leg shackle. To Bledsoe, the leg shackle represents the progress that blacks have made since the days of slavery. He touches it constantly because he feels that Iman has destroyed some of the progress that his people have made through his actions with Mr. Norton.

Whiteness is another of the prevailing motifs. The entire chapter deals with why the blacks, with the exception of Dr. Bledsoe, are inferior to the white man. When Iman leaves Dr. Bledsoe's office after being expelled, he looks up to the moon and the whiteness it shines down. This also relates to the motif of lights. The light from the moon gives Iman trouble seeing his way home. Also, as far as lights go, the lights in Dr. Bledsoe's office continually reflect off his spectacles and into the eyes of Iman. This also leads to a sort of blindness or trouble seeing.

"My God, boy! You're black and living in the South-did you forget how to lie?" (139) Dr. Bledsoe

"'I's big and black and I say 'Yes, suh' as loudly as any burrhead when it's convenient, but I'm still the king down here'" (142). Dr. Bledsoe

"Truth, truth, what was the truth? Nobody I knew, not even my own mother, would believe me if I tried to tell them" (144). Iman

"He seemed to think for a moment, his eyes studying the objects on his desk. Then touching the shackle gently..."(149). Dr. Bledsoe is touching his leg shackle.

by Bill Freund