# Chapter XII: The Flight explained — Black No More

> Chapter companion for Black No More by George Schuyler.

## What happens

On the eve of the election, Matthew Fisher and Bunny Brown await the birth of Matthew's child. The baby is born very dark, revealing Matthew's African ancestry. Simultaneously, a newspaper exposes Democratic leaders, including Givens, Snobbcraft, Buggerie, and Kretin, as having Negro ancestry. Matthew, Bunny, Helen, and the Givens flee to Mexico to escape the fallout.

## Themes in this chapter

### Racial Identity and Passing

Matthew's son's dark skin threatens to expose his passing as white, forcing him to confront the impossibility of escaping his racial identity.

### Hypocrisy of American Democracy

The exposure of Democratic leaders as having Negro ancestry satirizes the hypocrisy of white supremacist politics.

### Power and Corruption

Matthew's ambition and the leaders' corruption are laid bare as they flee to avoid the consequences of their lies.

## Character check-ins

### Matthew Fisher

Anxious about the birth of his child and the election, he learns his son is dark-skinned and decides to flee to Mexico.

### Bunny Brown

Matthew's loyal secretary, arranges the escape plane and money, and accompanies him to Mexico.

### Helen Fisher

Gives birth to a very dark son, which reveals Matthew's secret; she is calm and at peace during the flight.

### Rev. Henry Givens

Exposed as having Negro ancestry, he flees with the Fishers, though he is depressed and sincere in his racist beliefs.

### Mrs. Givens

Accompanies the group on the flight to Mexico, snoring in the rear of the plane.

### Doctor Brocker

The physician who delivers the baby and suggests killing it to avoid disgrace; he also flees to Mexico.

## Key lines

> The doctor had suggested an excellent way out of the dilemma. They could just say that the child had died.

The doctor proposed killing the baby and claiming it died to avoid the scandal.

_Highlights the extreme measures taken to maintain the facade of whiteness._

> Democratic Leaders Proved of Negro Descent Givens, Snobbcraft, Buggerie, Kretin and Others of Negro Ancestry, According to Old Records Unearthed by Them.

The newspaper headline reveals that the Democratic leaders, including Givens and Snobbcraft, have African ancestry.

_The irony of racists being exposed as having the very blood they despise._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_no_more_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_no_more_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_no_more_se/chapters