Chapter 19

Summary

• The chapter is set in Washington, D.C., September 29, 1932, and it's told from the perspective of a woman who visits Gray's Café, which she notes is less crowded than usual due to economic troubles.
• The narrator meets her friend Mary Church Terrell, founder of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACW), at the café. They order and chat about the latest happenings with the women’s club and the narrator's purpose in Washington for a fundraiser event.
• They discuss an award the narrator received, being named one of the “Fifty Most Distinguished Women of Our Day” before moving onto a discussion about President Hoover's chances at re-election.
• The narrator expresses her concern over Hoover’s declining popularity, pointing out that it's difficult for her to rally support for him when many African Americans are struggling to feed their families and facing eviction. Her friend Mary argues the economic situation is not Hoover's fault.
• The two discuss the government’s response to the economic crisis and African American community's dissatisfaction with Hoover, especially his nomination of a controversial figure, John Parker, to the Supreme Court, who had history of making racist comments.
• The narrator reveals that Eleanor Roosevelt asked her to join her husband’s campaign but felt she was expected to comply without being given the opportunity for input. Her conversation about this situation, and her past relationship with Eleanor, surprise Mary.
• Mary advises the narrator to stand firm and reminds her that she is a leader, not a follower.