The Marrow of Tradition

To survive life as a Black person in America, Dr. Miller believes that one must be either a “philosopher or a fool” (38), and this dichotomy becomes a motif associated with the novel’s Black characters. The interior lives of these characters—Dr. Miller, Janet, Jerry, and others—reveal that some try to cope with their knowledge of racism by seeking to understand it, while others work to ingratiate themselves with their white neighbors. Dr. Miller takes a particularly philosophical approach, often counseling others to bide their time rather than acting on impulse.

By contrast, the idea of the “fool” circulates around Jerry; Jerry works at a newspaper and in some ways lacks intelligence and understanding. Unlike Dr. Miller, he is willing to remain in a subservient role because he believes that his white “friends” will protect him. It is stated that Jerry is “a fool,” but “not all kinds of fool” (160). Dr. Miller’s remark suggests that a Black person can survive either by understanding racism or by ignoring it. However, it is notable that Jerry, the “fool,” does not survive, implying that ignorance of racism is not a viable strategy.