This part of the novel reminded me of the rising conflicting thoughts many of the characters we've read about have experienced. Whether they were colored or white, many of the characters had ideas with which they weren't completely content with. Toland's mom is an example of this. She is completely appalled by the game her son and Ben have engaged in, but she still gets upset when Toland's sister calls them "nigger clothes". She also sends Toland in to change and bathe, but he can play with Ben again once he's done. It seems like her reaction to the situation is directly influenced by her upbringing, but there is also a glimpse of progression in her views. This has been an ongoing trend in the majority of the pieces we've been reading: the embodiment of the Old South, but also its shift into a more modern era.
Question: Why did Toland's mom react this way and what might have influenced her views?
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