Imperium in Imperio

Belton attends Stowe University in Nashville, Tennessee. It is an all-Black university constructed by the church after the Civil War. It consists of five buildings, but only one is used for education. On his first night, the white president of the school discusses the “philanthropic” work done by white people to help the Black people of the South. Belton contemplates the money and effort that were put into improving his status and those of other Black people. He thinks of the “eyes” of the world and of God, all of which are watching him and encouraging him to be successful. The narrator notes how aggressively the South fought the establishment of the colleges and other forms of support for Black people even after slavery.

When Belton attends an assembly, he is shocked to see that a Black man is sitting among the white teachers. He learns that this man is also a teacher, as well as vice president of the staff. Belton is overcome with shock and pride at the true idea of “equality” manifesting before his eyes for the first time in his life. That night, he sneaks to the window of the teachers’ housing to see the Black teacher in charge of the white teachers at the meeting. Belton is eventually caught and flees.

Belton goes to a neighboring university and sees that it, too, has a Black teacher; however, unlike his own university, this teacher can eat among the white teachers. Determined to gain equality for his own Black teacher, Belton returns to Stowe University and encourages the other students to join a secret organization whose motto is “Equality or Death” (21). That day, at assembly, they present the president with a letter demanding that they allow the Black teacher to eat with them. He refuses, demanding the students return to their dormitories, but they refuse to move, eventually holding up signs that read “Equality or Death.” Out of shock and fear, the president agrees to their demands. The idea of the Black students finding power in each other shocks and scares the white professors. The same realization empowers the students. The narrator notes that these students represent the beginnings of a “new Negro, self-respecting, fearless, and determined to the assertion of his rights” (22).

The narrative jumps forward to the end of Belton’s time at Stowe University. Throughout his time at college, Belton is “marvelously bright” (23), growing as both a scholar and speaker.

At the graduation ceremony, the president, Dr. Lovejoy, gives a sermon from “The Kingdom of God is within us.” In his sermon, he compares the world to a dying animal, informing the students that they can either try to glean the last bits of life it has to offer, or they can nurture it to health; he implores them to do the latter and build a better world. He tells them that the status of Black people as subservient to whites cannot remain. Instead, it is the duty of the graduating students to ensure that the white race surrenders some of its power. The words greatly impact Belton, who “readily incorporated the principles enumerated” (24) into his life.

The following week, Belton speaks with the school’s president. His roommate, who was jealous of Belton’s success, placed a dirty sock in his coat in place of his handkerchief so that Belton drew it out during his valedictory speech. Afterward, Belton sought revenge, even purchasing a pistol, but his roommate was gone when he returned. The president of the college implores him to let the incident go, telling him that revenge is not worth the energy. Belton decides to allow God to seek revenge for him moving forward.

On the day the students leave, Belton wants to purchase transport to the train station for a female student he likes. However, he doesn’t have enough for the full ride. He takes the ride with her and tries to bargain with the carriage driver. They argue, and Belton pushes him down to stop him from asking the woman for the rest of the money. Belton is arrested and fined 10 dollars, which is paid by a group of white men who admire his respect for the woman. The narrator remarks that this incident marks the completion of Belton’s education at school and stresses the importance of a nation that holds its women in the same regard as its men.

The narrative shifts to Bernard Belgrave. When he arrived in Winchester and started school with Belton, his mother had immense wealth, but no one knew who she was or where she came from. He later became valedictorian at Harvard, where he was also popular among the white students and was named class president. Upon graduating, Bernard is taken to Washington, DC, where he meets his father, a Senator, for the first time.

Bernard’s father says he was previously married, and his wife’s brother had a child before passing away. His wife raised the child until her death. As the child grew, Bernard’s father fell in love with her. Fearing the public’s opinion, they went to Canada to legally marry, and she had Bernard. At the age of four, Bernard’s father sent Bernard and his mother off with money to start a life in Europe, then Virginia, keeping his parentage a mystery.

Bernard’s father explains that “this infernal race prejudice” (32) has ruined his life. Because of Bernard’s mother’s status as mixed raced, he has had to keep Bernard a secret. Now, he wishes for Bernard to return to Virginia as an attorney and run for Congress, with his father’s money and influence secretly helping him. He tells Bernard that he paid Mr. Leonard to teach at Bernard’s school, and that Mr. Leonard is a brilliant scholar who helped Bernard become successful. While in the army together, Bernard’s father and Mr. Leonard learned each other’s secrets: Mr. Leonard shot his commanding officer out of jealousy, and Bernard shared his secret marriage. They agreed to keep each other’s secrets and remained close.