At the beginning of the novel, Jefferson said “I was not there, yet I was there” which told a good bit of what situation Jefferson would be in before the novel was read fully. He felt as if no matter what he told the officers or whomever else, he would still be in a bad sticky situation because of his color of skin. Service is a major tool that grant used and offered to Jefferson as well. If it wasn’t for Grant, Jefferson would have been as hopeless as he was on day one Strength may not seem very relevant today but it makes a difference. Being strong is never a disadvantage and that’s what Jefferson felt ever since he got caught or maybe even before. Strength forms the backbone of manhood. It is the power that has allowed many generations of men to protect, feed, and provide for their families, even until this day. Grant uplifted Jefferson and made him realize his strength and courage as a man and made it possible to get through what he was going through as a strong individual. He also built Jefferson up to be someone that he …show more content…
Miss Emma, the one Jefferson loved the most played a significant role in his life. Grant noticed that the only way to open Jefferson's eyes was to show him that the one women that did a lot for him needed him the most. Tante Lou was someone who would get on Grants last nerve but he would always respect and listen to her. She was part of the reason that Grant agreed to see Jefferson in the first place. Vivian also played an important part in his life. Grant was a bitter man and it seemed as if he only enjoyed life was when he was with Vivian. She always showed Grant that there were many reasons for him to come back to Bayonne and that was to help his community. These women are very much so included in the idea of a service community all because they help uplift black men who felt like meant nothing, who felt like they didn’t have a purpose, and who felt like they weren’t strong black