Racism permeated every aspect of southern life style and thus every part of an Afro-American's life, from his self-perception to his basic economic condition. It was almost impossible to overcome because it was ingrained into the thinking of everyone, both black and white. The older blacks felt that things would never improve, but could get worse if they participated in the movement. Their goals were basic subsistence. The middle-class blacks would lose their jobs if they marched or tried to register to vote. Consequently, the students provided much of the energy in the civil rights movement because they had the least to lose and the most amount of foresight. Moody was pessimistic upon seeing that the movement did not represent a cross section of the population.
Racism, which was born of slavery's economic foundation, continued to control the black family's economic condition. It was hardest on the head of the household; a woman could always secure domestic work. Moody writes "In Centreville there weren't any factories or sawmills that employed unskilled Negro men . . . White businesses in town employed Negroes as janitors only, and there was never more than one janitor in any single business. The Negro man had a hard road to travel when looking for employment" (112). Job limitations influenced the Afro-American's perception and self-image. If a man could not support his family, he did not feel like the head of the household. The working felt like their self-worth was determined by their low wages. Their poverty depressed their spirits.
Emma's shooting showed how the economic conditions affected all parts of their lives, often resulting in violence within or the destruction of the family. Moody's stepmother understood that her relatives were fighting because the man could not find work and support his family. He took out his frustrations on his wife, but Emma was the shooting victim. Because he was afraid to str...