Who is Old Black Man from Travels with Charley: In Search of America and what is their importance?

The old Black man that Steinbeck gives a ride to also represents the Old South from the Black perspective. Cowering against his door in the truck, the old Black man tries to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible while Steinbeck asks questions that make the old man extremely uncomfortable. The old man finally asks to be dropped off, supposedly because his destination has been reached. Steinbeck notices the old man walking along the road and suspects the real reason was to get away from the uncomfortable White man driving the truck.