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1. Describe Wright's house.

Wright describes his house as on the wrong side of the tracks. His backyard was filled with cinders that he and his friends used to throw at each other in their games of play-wars.

2. What does Wright say his mother taught him in the opening section?

When Wright and his friends try to play war with a gang of white children, the whites throw broken milk bottles. Wright complains to his mother and she beats him until he remembers never to play with white people again. This lesson teaches Wright to detest his cinder yard, which before he had neither thought of as mean nor poor.

3. How do Wright's co-workers at the factory contrive to get rid of him?

Wright's coworkers contrive a way of getting him fired. One man accuses him of saying the man's name without first saying "Mister." The other claims he witnessed it. Wright gets a beating and leaves the job.

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