Once the boys have gone back upstairs, Irene tells Brian that she wishes he would not talk about lynching in front of Ted and Junior, at least not until they are older. Brian vehemently disagrees that they should wait to address such things. He says that since they have to live in the United States, the boys should know what kinds of dangers they will face as black men. Irene disagrees, wanting them to have happy childhoods free of racial prejudice.