Life Of Sharecroppers In Kneel To The Rising Sun

In the short story Kneel to the Rising Sun, we are given insight on the life of sharecroppers on a farm. Caldwell highlights two sharecroppers in particular: Lonnie and Clem. Clem is a confident black man that fights for what he wants and stands up to his wretched boss Arch Gunnard. Lonnie is a submissive white man that cannot talk to Arch. Throughout the story interactions between the characters lead to the horrible death of Clem Henry. Although, we could blame his death on his disrespect toward his white boss, Arch Gunnard. During a time where Blacks were still being lynched and forced to take of their hats when speaking to whites. The reason for Clem Henry's death goes much deeper than just blatant disrespect. Lonnie has the blood of

Lonnie's family is starving because of the lack of rations Arch Gunnard is giving out, but has no confidence to ask for more. He wished to himself, ”he could be as unafraid of Arch Gunnard as Clem was. Even if Clem was a Negro, he never hesitated to ask for rations when he needed something to eat; and when he and his family did not get enough, Clem came right out and told Arch so. Arch stood for that, but he swore that he was going to run Clem out of the country the first chance he got.”
Lonnie is clearly comparing himself to Clem in this quote. When evaluated more deeply it shows that Lonnie cares that Clem was black. Just by mentioning the fact that he was, and by adding the side comment of Arch running him out of the country. Also, this quote shows that Lonnie does not have the confidence to stand up to his boss. Therefore, not only is he going to have a lack of food but, he also is going to have to deal with the fact that a black man is getting more rations that he his. Keeping in mind that this is during a time where whites were considered superior to blacks. Most white people had the complex that they were better and it was always in the back of their heads. However, in Lonnie's situation, this type of complex will never come true. It will be hinted at that he believes it should, but he would never have the confidence to say anything to Clem. Which eventually will cause him to

However, instead of worrying about the dog the only thing Lonnie can think about is Clem and how he can’t wrap his head around a black person being braver than him. The story specifically states, “Lonnie lowered his eyes. He could not figure out how a Negro could be braver than he was. There were a lot of times like that when he would have given anything he had to be able to jump into Clem's shoes and change places with him.” For starters lowering of the eyes is a clear sign of defeat and submission. Thus showing Lonnie’s lack of confidence. To make it worse instead of thinking about his dog who he also could not bear to look at he thinks about Clem who has nothing to do with the situation. Lonnie strives to be clem and have the bravery and confidence he has. But, because he does not he resents the fact that Clem does. This is proven when he said it himself “how could a Negro be braver than he was.” Lonnie later thought about Clem, yet again, when pondering what Clem would do if Arch got a hold of his dog. Then three sentences later the story states that Lonnie was thinking about Clem again because he wants to be more like him. Seeing that he clearly cannot, it causes him to resent Clem and the confidence he has. By the end of this seen Lonnie could not even look at Clem. The author states “Lonnie tried not to watch his dog's agony, and he forced himself to keep from looking at Clem Henry.” The word choice alone