Baldwin's writing in this memoir is entirely truthful, and in its truth is both devastating and hopeful. Despite all that has hurt him, all that he fears, all that is evil and all that festers in its ignorance, he has faith in the black people of America, and he loves them. Such love is what makes all of his writing so intelligent and so powerful, and this is no exception.

Now, as we came out, and I looked up the road, I saw them. They were all along the road, on either side, they were all along the roofs, on either side. Every inch of ground, as far as the eye could see, was black with black people, and they stood in silence. It was the silence that undid me. I started to cry, and I stumbled, and Sammy grabbed my arm. We started to walk.