Though it is a painful fact that most Negroes are hopelessly docile, many of them are filled with fury, and the unctuous coating of flattery which surrounds and encases that fury is but a form of self-preservation.
The quote highlights the complex emotions of many African Americans, suggesting that while a significant number might appear submissive, there lies beneath a deep-seated anger. This state of docility is not genuine but rather a protective mechanism, a way to cope with their circumstances while hiding their true feelings of resentment.