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All the whites in this story are presented as
feeling superior towards blacks and coloureds. Yet, one ought to
make a difference between poorer and wealthy whites.
Poor young ones usually look for trouble in an
extremely aggressive way: They'd shout names after young blacks,
throw stones at them, trap them and beat them up. They probably act
like this because they feel deprived compared to the wealthy people
and long to have an advantage over someone. (p.16, ll.15-21)
Wealthy whites show their contempt through
condescending arrogance by calling blacks/coloureds "girl, boy,
Jim or Betty" and emphasizing their alleged superiority.
(pp.28-29)
Jacob and his friends do not feel
inferior towards the poor whites. When these attack them, they fight
back. At the rich family's house though, Jacob behaves differently.
He suffers the humiliating treatment and prevents himself from
showing his reluctance knowing the consequences: His mom would lose
an important client and they might even get into trouble with the
police.
Lena Hintz
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