Part III, Chapters 35 through 39 Summary and Analysis

In chapter thirty-five, McCall continues his quest to retain his sanity while fitting into the mainstream, gets a personal look at the political scene and the blacks who have that kind of power - sometimes turning it to help the whites who had opposed their candidacy - and becomes involved in an Atlanta subculture of "trendy" blacks who are intelligent but finding ways to live outside the mainstream. In chapter thirty-six, McCall has a visit from an old friend named Stanley who wants to escape the drug scene in Norfolk but is disgusted with the low pay for welders and begins dealing in cocaine. McCall plans to get in on the business but gets high once on cocaine and realizes that it's a huge step backwards and leaves.

In chapter thirty-seven, McCall meets and befriends...