Chapter 53

Summary

• Chapter 53, titled "Eleanor", opens with Eleanor referencing the foreboding global environment, with Germany's invasion of Scandinavia, Belgium's surrender to the Germans, and much of France falling under German control, setting the stage for a crucial meeting in the Oval office between Mary, Franklin, and herself.
• They discuss Mary's return to health and the necessary role she plays in Washington as a well-respected African American advocate.
• Mary discusses Franklin's previous promises established at the National NYA Conference that had not been met, leading to significant unrest among the African American community.
• Mary criticizes the lack of progress in education, voting rights, job opportunities, housing conditions, and the limited representation of African Americans in the federal administration and explicitly states that many who had managed to secure administrative positions were being assigned to defense division roles with lower rank and authority.
• Franklin explains that the imminent World War has redirected the government’s attention and resources from the New Deal to the military.
• Mary presents a proposal to Franklin, affirming that the African American community wants to contribute to the country's war efforts and should not face continued rejection and subservient roles in the military.
• She suggests more inclusivity, like integrating the colored population in pilot and combat training, placing more African Americans in higher military ranks, improving military accommodation, and creating integrated combat units could pacify the disgruntled African American factions.
• Mary suggests that these accommodations could help secure African American support for Franklin if he chose to run for a third term.
• Franklin appreciates Mary's proposal and her potential support for his presidency, given he chooses to run for a third term.
• Franklin agrees, though with uncertainty, to facilitate some of Mary's requests, creating schools for African American pilots and combat training, introduce more colored units, consider applications for the officers' corps from African American reservists, and increasing the number of enlisted African Americans.
• Mary then requests the integration of combat units, which Franklin rejects stating it is too big of a leap to make, even for him, he promises advancements on the other points.
• Despite not fully obtaining the integration they sought, Mary sees progress and concludes that an agreement has been made, shaking hands with Franklin in a symbolic sign of the pledge he made.