40 pages 1 hour read

Charles W. Chesnutt

The Marrow of Tradition

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1901

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 8-11

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 8 Summary: “The Campaign Drags”

Major Carteret is disappointed that his white supremacy campaign has gained little traction due to lack of interest. He calls a meeting of the “Big Three” (himself, McBane, and Belmont) to discuss a path forward. Belmont tells the other men that they must get public opinion on their side to avoid being perceived as evil. They plan to use the major’s newspaper as an organ. They look at the “local negro paper” to see if they can make use of its contents.

Chapter 9 Summary: “A White Man’s Nigger”

Major Carteret, McBane, and Belmont inspect the Afro-American Banner together, noticing ads for skin-whitening and hair-straightening products. There is an article criticizing lynchings over interracial marriage, when interracial marriage is perfectly legal in the eyes of God and in most states. Belmont counsels the other men on when to use the article, but warns against immediate punishment of the writer. He sends Jerry out for drinks, and after McBane is rude to the servant, the other men judge his behavior. Listening in again, Jerry has a sense of their plot, but mainly worries over whether he should return the general’s change. As the meeting wraps up, the general warns the major that