Chapter 2, Brass Spittoons Summary

After his grandmother's death, the Reeds, who were family friends, cared for Langston.

Langston helped with the housework, which included setting hens and driving cows to pasture. He also sold papers and worked at a local hotel. The hotel paid him fifty cents a week, and he used this money to go to the theater, where he enjoyed thrillers and Charlie Chaplin comedies. One day, Langston was denied admittance because of his color, so he began watching movies at the opera house. Langston also enjoyed watching Saturday football games at the University of Kansas. Sometimes Langston would sneak into the medical school building and watch students dissect cadavers.

Auntie Reed insisted that Langston go to church every Sunday. Langston, who had been raised a Methodist, liked the Reeds' Baptist church. One day, during a revival at the church, all...