Imperium in Imperio

“As the lady moved up the aisle toward him, he was taken with stage fright. He recovered self-possession enough to escort her and the boy to the front and give them seats. The whole school divided its attention between the beautiful woman and the discomfited teacher. They had not known that he was so full of smiles and smirks.”

From the very beginning of the text, it is made clear that racial injustice will be an important theme of the novel. This description of Bernard’s mother, and the teacher’s greeting of her, directly contrasts with the angry, disrespectful language that he used to refer to Belton just a few minutes prior. Because of Mrs. Belgrave’s beauty and the fact that she is mixed-raced, Bernard will benefit throughout his education, while Belton struggles because of his mother’s status as a poor Black woman.

“The startled preacher hastily arose from the table and gazed on the little fellow in bewilderment. As soon as it dawned upon him what the trouble was, he hastily got the remaining biscuit and gave it to Belton. He also discovered that his voracity had made enemies of the rest of the children.”

The preacher’s reaction to realizing that he had consumed all the food shows how out of touch he—and religion as a whole—truly are to the needs of Black people in this time. He takes money from members of his congregation and does not hesitate to come into the Piedmont home and consume an entire chicken and several biscuits, expressing shock when discovering the impact that this has on the family.

“Despite the lack of all knowledge of his moral character and previous life, he was pronounced as much too good a man to fritter away his time on n******. Such was the character of the man into whose hands was committed the destiny of the colored children of Winchester.”

In this description of Mr. Leonard, it is made clear that there is no knowledge of his previous life or what his beliefs are. However, he is still given the position of teacher at the school—revealing deep flaws in the education system for Black people. Additionally, Griggs’s diction and use of a racial slur reflects not only the language of the time, but more importantly, imparts feelings of disgust and discomfort toward Mr. Leonard, which emphasizes these flaws in the system and people of power within that system.

“Strangely enough, his ardent love for Bernard and his bitter hatred of Belton accomplished the very same result in respect to their acquirements. The teacher soon discovered that both boys were talented far beyond the ordinary, and that both were ambitious.”

Ironically, Mr. Leonard puts all his effort into educating Bernard and trying to find an area of study in which he is smarter than Belton. However, the opposite result of what he wanted is produced. Both boys learn a wide range of subjects, and Belton learns much more that he typically would have as a result of being pitted against Bernard.

“Julius Caesar, on entering Rome in triumph […] Napolean, bowing to receive the diadem of the Caesars’ won by the most notable victories ever known to earth; General Grant, on his triumphal tour around the globe […]; none of these were more full of pleasurable emotion than this poor Negro lad, who now with elastic step and beating heart marched with head erect beneath the arch of the doorway leading into Stowe University.”

These allusions to great leaders of history stress the pride and joy that Belton feels when entering college for the first time. This stresses the importance of education for Belton—and Black people after the Civil War—and the theme of Education as Liberation.

“[The president] did not on this occasion preach a sermon, but devoted the hour to discoursing upon the philanthropic work done by the white people of the North for the freedmen of the South.”

In his welcome speech at Stowe University on Belton’s first day, the president spends the entire time preaching the work done by white people to help Black people in the South. This example of irony shows the major flaws in the education system, as one would expect a Black college to stress the importance of Black people and what can be done by them, not what was done for them.

“The colored teacher’s views seemed about to prevail, and as one after another the teachers seemed to fall in line with him Belton could not contain himself longer, but clapped his hands and gave a loud, joyful, ‘Ha! ha!’ The eyes of the whole school were on him in an instant, and the faculty turned around to discover the source and cause of the disorder.”

As Belton watches the only Black teacher in the school win over the white teachers, he cannot contain his excitement at the idea of a Black man being treated as an equal. Griggs uses humor to emphasize Belton’s shock and excitement that even such a small instance of equality as this is possible, in direct contrast to everything Belton has experienced in his life until now.

“The teachers decided that they had been visited by a Negro, hunting for chickens; laughed heartily at their fright and resumed deliberations. Thus again a patriot was mistaken for a chicken thief; and in the South to-day a race that dreams of freedom, equality, and empire, far more than is imagined, is put down as a race of chicken thieves.”

Griggs uses humor to bring comedic relief to a tense situation. While attempting to see a Black teacher respected and listened to at the teachers’ meeting, Belton is discovered and forced to flee into a chicken coop. Along with the humor, Griggs makes an important point about the relationship between white and Black people: White people are ignorant of the “dreams” of Black people and what they are capable of, instead putting them down as simply “chicken thieves” with no aspirations.

“The confused and bewildered teachers remained behind, busy with their thoughts. They felt like hens who had lost their broods. The cringing, fawning, sniffling, cowardly Negro which slavery left, had disappeared, and a new Negro, self-respecting, fearless, and determined in the assertion of his rights was at hand.”

Griggs once again stresses the ignorance of white people in their understanding of Black people. They fail to realize the power of education, or that these students have their own dreams and goals of equality, even though they are teachers in that very institution. This is one instance which shapes Belton’s belief at the conclusion of the text that the Black community must present themselves as a “New Negro,” or intelligent, educated people with dreams of equality in order to be treated as equals.

“If you heed my voice you shall become true patriots. If you disregard it, you will become time-serving demagogues, playing upon the passions of the people for the sake of short-lived notoriety. Such men would corral all the tigers in the forest and organize them into marauding regiments simply for the honor of being in the lead.”

The speech at Belton’s graduation from the president epitomizes Belton’s beliefs while also directly contrasting them with Bernard’s actions. The president of his college emphasizes the importance of the collective and using intelligence to lead people to equality for the greater good—something that Belton believes in throughout the novel and ultimately costs him his life. Conversely, Bernard thrusts his plans into the hands of the Imperium members and coerces them to support him in order to meet his own ends, despite the danger it poses to humanity.

“The assembly room was decorated with choice flowers and presented the appearance of the Garden of Eden.”

This quote alludes to the Garden of Eden from the Book of Genesis in the Bible. The garden is a paradise where Adam and Eve live without sin, guarding the tree of life, until they eat the forbidden fruit and are expelled, denied eternal life. The hall of the graduation ceremony is compared to this garden, as it is a paradise for the Black students. They are largely outside of the prejudices of society and can dream of equality. However, after graduation, they are removed from this paradise and face the struggles of the world outside.

“The Negro race had left the last relic of barbarism behind, and this young negro, fighting to keep that cab driver from approaching the girl for a fee, was but a forerunner of the negro, who, at the voice of a woman, will fight for freedom until he dies, fully satisfied if the hand that he worships will only drop a flower on his grave. Belton’s education was now complete.”

There is little mention of women throughout the course of the novel regarding their role in achieving equality, or the discrimination that they too face in society. Here, Griggs mentions an incident with Belton and a girl he liked where he could not pay for a cab ride for her but fought to keep her from having to pay instead. Griggs implies that the role of a woman is to serve only as motivation for men in the fight for equality, as is reflected in the roles that both Viola and Antoinette play in driving the actions of Belton and Bernard at the conclusion of the text.

“This infernal race prejudice has been the curse of my life. Think of my pure-hearted, noble-minded wife, branded as a harlot, and you, my own son, stigmatized as a bastard, because it would be suicide for me to let the world know that you both are mine, though you both are the direct descendants of a governor, and a long line of heroes whose names are ornaments to our nation’s history. I want you to break down this prejudice.”

In the revelation of Bernard’s parentage, it is shown that Bernard’s father, much like Bernard, is motivated less by what is right and wrong, and more by his own personal situation. Instead of standing up against equality for the sake of all Black people, he is more concerned with doing so to protect his own status and that of his family. He also utilizes Bernard to achieve these ends, instead of using his own power or influence as a governor, thereby continuing to protect his own status and instead allowing Bernard to jeopardize his.

“Her escort bade her good-night at her father’s gate in a most sullen manner, but Viola was so lost in thought that she did not notice it. She entered the house feeling lively and cheerful, but when she entered her room she burst into crying.”

This description of Viola after her date with Bernard foreshadows the secret she holds, and her death. She is suffering from the mixed emotions of falling in love with Bernard and knowing that she vowed never to marry a man with white ancestry.

“Miss Nermal thoroughly in love with Belton, but Belton prizing that love too highly to deem it possible for him to be the happy possessor therof.”

This quote reflects how humble Belton is, believing that he is not worthy of Antoinette’s love. This contrasts directly with Bernard’s pursuit of Viola and his belief that he is not only worthy of her but also must marry a respected, wealthy, beautiful woman like her.

“As a rule, the most prominent and lucrative places went to those who were most influential with the voters. Measured by this standard and by the standard of real ability, Belton was entitled to the best place in the district in the gift of the government; but the color of his skin was against him, and he had to content himself with a clerkship.”

Two examples of corruption and injustice are exemplified here. In the first, men who have the most influence in elections are in turn appointed to the best jobs, often with no regard for their ability. In the second, Belton earned the best position both by his political influence and his ability and intelligence; however, he is denied the place simply because he is a Black man.

“Bernard started a secret newspaper whose business it was to chronicle every fresh discrimination, every new act of oppression, every additional unlawful assault upon the property, the liberty or the lives of any members of the Imperium […] Only members of the Imperium had access to this fiery journal.”

Just as Belton had previously started a journal for Black people to expose inequality, Bernard decides as President of the Imperium to do the same. However, because of the system of the Imperium behind him and its support, he can disseminate the journal without fear or influence from the white power structures. This shows the importance not only of things like knowledge, education, and desire—things both Belton and Bernard had in starting a paper —but more importantly, the need for systemic support and power, which Bernard has with his paper; thus, it is able to be utilized successfully.

“The other is the crackling of a burning house in the night’s dead hours, the piteous cries of pain and terror from the lips of wounded babes; the despairing, heart-rending, maddening shrieks of the wife and mother, the harrowing groans of the dying husband and father, and the gladsome shout of the fiendish mob of white American citizens, who have wrought the havoc just described, a deed sufficiently horrible to make Satan blush and hell hastily hide her face in shame.”

Bernard’s discourse and his use of strong, emotive language emphasizes the horrors that Black people have faced, even after gaining their freedom, to convince the Imperium that action must be taken for equality. Bernard uses dramatic, vivid language to evoke a sense of deep emotion in his audience.

“Pleadingly they look to you to extract the arrow of shame which hangs quivering in every bosom, shame at continued humiliation, unavenged.”

This metaphor compares the feeling of shame to an arrow protruding from one’s chest. The arrow remains in the chest and causes pain and suffering yet will not be mortal if appropriately extracted. Similarly, Black people suffer from the humiliation of systemic racism, and even if they will not die from it, the shame needs to be removed for them to truly live.

“Thus, like Tantalus of old, we are placed in streams of water up to our necks, but when we stoop down to drink thereof the waters recede; Lucius, fruit, tempting to the eye and pleasing to the taste, is placed above our heads, only to be wafted away by the winds of prejudice, when, like Tantalus we reach up to grasp and eat.”

This quote is an allusion to the Greek mythological figure Tantalus, who attempted to trick the gods and was punished by eternal temptation, forced to stand below a tree of fruit he could not eat from, in a pool of water than receded whenever he tried to drink. Bernard is comparing Black people to Tantalus, as they are given educations and knowledge and tempted with the idea of equality but are never fully able to grasp it because of systemic racism.

“Like lean, hungry dogs, we must crouch beneath our master’s table and snap eagerly at the crumbs that fall. If in our scramble for these crumbs we make too much noise, we are violently kicked and driven out of doors, where, in the sleet and snow, we must whimper and whine until late the next morning when the cook opens the door and we can then crouch down in the corner of the kitchen.”

This simile compares Black people to abused dogs. They wait at the table of white people to be given scraps, and if they make too much commotion, they are driven outside to wait to be let back in, only to then stand in the corner. They are shown bits and pieces of society and told of equality and freedom, yet any effort to grab it results in punishment and further exile from American society.

“If David were on earth alive to-day and the ruler of an enlightened kingdom, he would be impeached forthwith, fined for adultery, imprisoned for bigamy, and hanged for murder. Yet while not measuring up to the stand of morality to-day, he was the man after God’s own heart in his day and generation.”

This quote is an allusion to the biblical figure David, from the Books of Samuel, who slays a Philistine giant, Goliath, to protect the people of Israel. When David becomes King of Israel, he is heralded for his unification of Israel and his capturing of Jerusalem, even though he commits adultery with a married Bathsheba and plots the death of her husband. Belton is making the point that white people should not be judged for slavery, as they were doing what was considered acceptable at the time when they were alive. Similarly, David was praised as a strong king and celebrated for his deeds, yet in looking back on history, committed the sins of murder and adultery.

“Each knew that further argument was unnecessary, and they arose to part. They stood up, looking each other squarely in the face, and shook hands in silence. Tears were in the eyes of both men. But each felt that he was heading the call of duty, and neither had ever been known to falter.”

Despite their differences throughout the course of the text—differences in their paths to this moment, their goals, and their means to achieve those goals—it is made clear here that Belton and Bernard have one important trait in common: their devotion to duty. Although they may vary in the way they achieve liberty, they both respect each other for their devotion to that liberty and the fact that they will not waiver in their respective paths.