The author obviously has a lot of knowledge about the living of black people and poor people back to the old days. One word, miserable. I doubt how many Americans remember those facts. If they do, they will not be shameless to blame Chinese for their liberal development.
In comparison to the silent or fooled majority, there are always some people who are smart, knowledgeable, and brave in any society, particularly among those who are at disadvantages. They try to summit their thoughts to their peers about freedom and equality. It is a lonely process, which is even not understood or appreciated by their families.
Dr. Copeland, a Negro physician, who is only allowed to serve the black people, spent his lifetime to educate his black community. What he got in return is that his wife and his four children left him. Mr. Blount,
who is a crazy believer in Karl Marx, traveled across different cities, tried hard to tell people that the rich does not have any right to control so much wealth, was always laughed at by his peers and chased by dogs.
What is ridiculous is that both Dr. Copeland and Mr. Blount chose Mr. Singer, a mute, as their loyal friend or the one who kept their secret. For whatever reason, they thought that the mute understood and agreed on what they were telling people. Whenever they had troubles or puzzles, they went to the mute. The mute had a quiet face, always smiling. It became a sign that he knew everything. However, in the letter that Mr. Singer wrote to his mute friend, he admitted that he did not understand what these people were talking. He kept being polite because it was not bad to have some companion since he himself was also lonely. Nobody knew that Mr. Singer had a close mute friend. Everybody was shocked when Mr. Singer committed a suicide after his mute friend died. They were sad ecause they lost their only audience. The story is not ridiculous though considering the loneliness of the heart which longs for the truth. People need somebody who understands or they think that they understand them.
I also like the story of Mick Kelly, a talented girl who is 12, 13 years. She liked music very much and she understood every note in those classic pieces. She even had her own music inside her heart all the time. She had beautiful dreams of going to foreign countries and became the greatest musician. When she was 14 years old, she chose to work in a grocery store, earning $10 a week to reduce the family’s economic burden. Unfortunately, the boring work worn her out and she found the door of her inside gradually closed. Everybody has their pink dreams when they are young. Most of us are even very talented. Nevertheless, when we grow up, we have to face the reality and we compromise with the reality. Therefore, one result of growing up is that we gradually forget or give up our pink dreams. It is a pity. But it is life.
