“Dad, why is it that they only lynch coloured people?” Ted asked. “Because they hate ’em, son.” “Brian!” Irene’s voice was a plea and a rebuke. Ted said: “Oh! And why do they hate ’em?” “Because they are afraid of them.” “But what makes them afraid of ’em?” “Because—” “Brian!” “It seems, son, that is a subject we can’t go into at the moment without distressing the ladies of our family,” he told the boy with mock seriousness, “but we’ll take it up some time when we’re alone together.”
