Chapter 27

Summary

• Mary and Eleanor, presumably Eleanor Roosevelt, meet in the White House Rose Garden for a discussion about serious and contentious ongoing issues related to race politics.
• They learn from a newspaper headline that President Roosevelt has created the Office of the Special Adviser on the Economic Status of the Negroes, which was their idea, but were not informed of the announcement.
• Mary is frustrated to find out that the appointed adviser is white, contrary to their intention when suggesting the creation of the position. Eleanor attempts to console Mary, stating this white adviser, Clark Foreman, may be able to make a difference given his progressive views.
• Eleanor suggests that due to the discrimination existing in the country, it might be beneficial to have a white person in the position as they'll have access to places and influence unreachable by black people. Mary reluctantly agrees.
• They also discuss lynchings, particularly the recent lynching of a young black man named George Armwood. Mary shares in graphic detail the abhorrent events leading to Armwood's death in order to stress the need for anti-lynching legislation.
• Eleanor is horrified, expresses her naivety about the true nature of lynchings, and resolves to make the legislation a priority and to get President Roosevelt's support, hoping he could use his influence to get support from both political parties.