That the city would return to being the thriving white suburb of his youth. Cars with tail fins. Straw hats and sock hops. Episcopalians and ice cream socials. It would be the opposite of white flight, he said. "The Ku Klux influx." But when I'd ask him how, he'd just shrug and, like a conservative senator without any ideas, filibuster me with unrelated stories about the good ol' days.
The character reminisces about his youth in a predominantly white suburb, filled with nostalgic images of a time when life seemed simpler and more wholesome. He longs for a return to those days, featuring classic cars, social gatherings, and a strong sense of community among white residents. This yearning represents a desire to reverse the trend of white flight, which has led to a decline in the suburb's diversity and vibrancy.
However, when pressed for ideas on how to achieve this idealized vision, he becomes evasive, resorting to anecdotes rather than concrete plans. His reluctance to engage with the present reflects a broader theme of nostalgia, showing how people can cling to the past while grappling with the complexities of change in society.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
