"'You weren't being smart, were you, boy?' he said, not unkindly.
'No, sir!'
'You sure that about "equality" was a mistake?'
'Oh, yes, sir,' I said. 'I was swallowing blood.'
'Well, you had better speak more slowly so we can understand. We mean to do right by you, but you've got to know your place at all times. All right, now, go on with your speech.'" (Ellison 31).