Chapter 52
Summary
- Mary, the narrator, reflects on the toll that the fight against racism has taken on her health, which has led to her current hospitalization.
- She has been in Johns Hopkins Hospital for two months following a life-threatening bronchitis and sinus infection, which has led to sinus surgery.
- Mary's son, Albert, has come to visit her in hospital, and while he worries over her, she reassures him that she will be discharged in a week.
- When she is alone, Mary contemplates the state of the world, with war in Europe and increased military spending in the US leading to cuts in New Deal programming.
- She believes that she must gather the Federal Council members to discuss how to navigate these budget cuts, and protect the agencies they represent.
- When Robert Weaver and Bill Hastie visit her, they inform her that the Federal Council has disbanded, due in part to the perceived lack of commitment from the president to enact changes necessary for the African-American community.
- Mary is shocked and hurt when they further suggest that her close friendship with President Roosevelt and his wife has actually hindered the Council, because she wasn’t aggressive enough when pushing for policy changes.
- Mary defends her actions, arguing that she has pushed the Roosevelts to the edge of their capabilities and that steady progress has been made in improving the lives of African-Americans.
- Despite the men's doubts, Mary insists that collective power is needed more than ever and they need to push the president as a united front. The men agree to try and reunite the disbanded council.
- After they leave, Mary reflects on their conversation and decides that regardless of what they believe, she can accomplish more with the president, especially if he runs for a third term.