The Marrow of Tradition

The Wellington riot begins at three o’clock. The article from the Afro-American Banner has been republished with an editorial by Major Carteret, and white men have taken to the streets with weapons, searching all Black people and killing those who resist. Dr. Miller has been out on a call, but as he approaches the town, he runs into others who tell them about the violence being carried out against Black citizens. He runs into Watson, the lawyer, who complains that none of his so-called white friends gave him the slightest warning of the coming violence. The two men run into Josh, who tells them that the people are looking for a leader. Although Dr. Miller is tempted by this call, he ultimately tells Josh that even if they temporarily overpower the white citizens, trains full of other outraged white people will soon arrive to kill them all. Their only choice is to wait for the violence to blow over. Dr. Miller heads back to the city to find his wife and child.

Dr. Miller arrives home but finds that Janet and his son went to Ms. Butler’s. He journeys the one mile toward them and is stopped three times by bands of men who search him.