Separate Pasts: Growing Up White In The Segregated South

We meet Lonnie Mac, McLaurin’s Granddaddy who runs a general store. Lonnie’s racial attitudes—he supports segregationist doctrines and repeats racial stereotypes—shapes McLaurin’s view of race. A complex figure, he shows kindness to individual African Americans, extending credit, cashing checks, and offering loans. He supports segregationist doctrines and repeats racial stereotypes. In other situations, he withholds credit or calls in debts. He is deferentially called “Mr. Lonnie” by African American customers.

The key incident in the chapter involves Viny Love. A hardworking single mother whose son has cerebral palsy, Viny is considered a “worthy” black who works hard and pays her debts. Viny asks Lonnie for help. She has applied for welfare, but the welfare agent hasn’t come by to approve the claim. Lonnie helps her without hesitation, calling the office and informing James Wilson, the welfare agent, of Viny’s situation. Lonnie is horrified by the bureaucratic inefficiency of the welfare department but is confident they will quickly follow up on his request.

Several days after the phone call, James Wilson comes to the store to ask for directions to Viny’s home. Weeks later, Viny returns to the store and tells Lonnie that she has not received a welfare check yet. Lonnie is enraged. He tells McLaurin to get Theo, a local boy. Lonnie, Viny, McLaurin, and Theo drives to Viny’s house and pick up her crippled son. Lonnie takes him to James Wilson’s office. McLaurin stays in the car, and everyone else goes inside. Later, Lonnie and Viny emerge from the office. Theo tells McLaurin that Lonnie placed the disabled boy on James’s desk, demanding immediate aid. Lonnie and James then had a private conversation. McLaurin is proud of his grandfather but confused by his actions and the lengths he went to help Viny Love.