Chapter 21 Summary

In the city's largest black church, Reverend Agee, joined by NAACP leaders, holds a press conference, Gwen Hailey by his side. He announces the formation of the Carl Lee Hailey defense fund, and the two NAACP leaders contribute $10,000. Agee rants for forty-five minutes about his favorite issues. Next the national NAACP director holds forth for thirty minutes, haranguing the crowd of two hundred with national statistics on racism in the court system. Highly exercised now, he exhorts the local blacks to give until it hurts and then promises marches and demonstrations. He goes on to reveal that the NAACP will provide lawyers, its capital defense unit handling all aspects of the trial, and he is sure they will raise in excess of $50,000 for legal fees. Then all stand and sing "We Shall Overcome." Jake reads about the speeches in the newspaper and is...