In this chapter, Weight, recently named valedictorian of the 9^th grade, is asked to give a graduation speech. However, in reality the principle is asking him to give a speech written by others opposed to by him. He refuses to say this speech, instead giving his own. What is important is that Wright admits that the speech he turned down was incontestably better worded and clearer, however Wright's speech is authentic. I believe it is justified that he made this decision because it increased pressure on him to leave the south and go north. Had he not given his own speech, he would have been a likely candidate for a teaching job that could have prevented him from leaving Jackson. Giving the speech made the principle realize that he did not wish a person like Richard to teach in the schools, ensuring that they would not hire Richard in the future. This was inevitably Richard’s most obvious chance for a long-term career in Jackson. This decision inevitably made it much easier for Richard to depart Jackson when the time came that he had enough money.