Chapter 2 Summary

Tom is now introduced, and discloses more about the lifestyle in the factory town. Tom and several other black men are sitting around a campfire, listening to an old black man tell stories of the old days of white folks, moonshining, and cotton picking. It is during these stories that Tom hears two other workers joking about Louisa and her relationship with Bob. Tom becomes jealous and claims that Louisa is his; the other men laugh at him. He pulls a knife and threatens them but they run away in fear because they know that Tom has spent time in jail for violence. Tom stalks off to the factory town and finds Louisa sitting on her porch.

He declares his love for her and tries to explain to her that he can give her whatever the white folks can because he is a...