Everything That Rises Must Converge

In this story, Flannery O'Connor juxtaposes the narrow mindedness of bigots with the modernized world, and demonstrates the condescending aspect of the "white man's burden". Julian, a college educated man who never believes he will be a success, is asked by his shallow but caring mother to accompany her on a bus ride to a weight loss class. His mother needs an escort because the busses were recently integrated, and she fears running into a black man. 

The instant his mother gets on the bus, she engages in bunkum conversation with a woman about the "Negroes", and how unsafe she feels. Julian listens in disgust, looking down upon his mother and questioning her intelligence. He remarks on her "small mind", and how lucky he is that he has a more accurate picture of the world. His mother clearly believes that she is above people of another color, and chooses to feel sorry for them. When a black man comes onto a bus, a white woman switches seat and his mother looks on approvingly. Julian is embarassed by this tacit display of racism, and does not want to be associated with her. He contemplates getting off at the next stop and leaving his mother to walk alone to class, then figures he'll decide when he gets there. 

When a black woman and a little boy get on the bus, Julian hopes the woman will sit next to her. Instead, he is disappointed when the little boy sits there, because he knows his mother finds the children "cute." His mother plays with the child, then wants to offer him a nickel as he gets off. This is where Julians tone changes from sarcasticly mocking his mother to pleading with her, desperately begging her not to do it. She doesn't have a nickel on her, so she offers him a penny. 

The woman swings her purse at her, knocking his mother down. Julian is secretly pleased, hoping his mother learned her lesson about talking down to people. The reader will never know because his mother has a stroke. 

This story examines the conflicted relationship between a very common sort of racist and a tolerant man. The air of condescension in his mothers actions, even those towards Julian, do not have a malicious intent. However, they are the most harmful of all.