Yet I was appalled. For at the same time, such a violent act, even though well provoked and not entirely unheard of, was rare and shocking enough so as to make it likely that an atmosphere of suspicion would close in upon Negroes in general. The gossip would get started: God durned niggers gittin' so they hit back. I was deeply afraid that with such feelings prevalent, our Negroes would become unsettled by the overall mistrust and lose heart for the venture or-even worse-would under this new pressure somehow give away our great secret.
The narrator expresses deep concern over a violent act committed by an African American, which, while provoked, is alarming due to its rarity. This incident could lead to increased suspicion and hostility toward the entire Black community. The narrator fears that negative perceptions fueled by gossip will intensify, possibly causing a loss of morale among the Negro population.
As tensions rise, the narrator worries that the broader community's mistrust may destabilize their unity or, worse, jeopardize their secret plans. The fear is that such pressure might overwhelm the individuals and lead to detrimental consequences for their efforts.
