Imperium in Imperio

Chapter 5 describes the role of Christianity in developing the South at the end of the Civil War. To “provide for the negro a Christian education” (14), many Christians went South after the war. As such, nearly every state in the newly “freed” South contained one or more Black Christian colleges. However, due to his wealth, Bernard can attend Harvard in the North.

Belton’s speech at graduation is passed along to Mr. King of the Richmond Daily Temps through the congressman who helped him. It spreads through the US and England, and is even recognized by the President of the United States. Mr. King is described as a liberal, arguing regularly in his paper for the rights of Black people as are guaranteed to them by the Constitution. King believes that educated Black people will realize that they are being denied these rights, and there will be another war.

King brings Belton to his home and offers to pay for his college education. In return, he asks Belton to remember that although he will find white men who are not good, there are also good white men. Belton promises to “never class all white men together” (17) and instead learn who they are as individuals.