A Lesson Before Dying

Grant and the visitors leave the courthouse and go their separate ways. Grant heads to the Rainbow Club to wait for Vivian so he can tell her the good news about his successful visit with Jefferson. He is in a good mood and thinks that he is relaxed enough for things to go well in bed with Vivian for a change. He also thinks about how the Reverend looked at him with envy because it was Grant who has influence with Jefferson and not the Reverend himself. As Grant waits for Vivian, two biracial or “mulatto” bricklayers are at a nearby table bad-mouthing Jefferson. Grant has two drinks before he realizes what they are talking about. He tells himself to cool off and not fight, but he ends up approaching the table anyway and tells the men to shut up. He knows they are trying to pick a fight because the biracial men hate the Black men and think the Black man is the lowest of all, so they bring their prejudice to the only place in town that lets them drink indoors. As the tallest bricklayer begins to stand, Grant punches him and knocks him backward over the chair.