Quote 1
"Give us a couple minutes," Clatoo said. "You can spare us that."
Mapes looked back at us on the walk. More of us had raised our guns belt-level.
"All right," Mapes said to Clatoo. "You have a couple minutes. Make it quick. I'm tired now."
"Y'all come on inside," Clatoo said to us. "Not you, Candy," he said to her.
"Nobody's talking without me," Candy said, coming back toward the garry.
"This time we have to, Candy," Clatoo said. "Just the men with guns."
That stopped her. Nobody talked to Candy like that—Black or white. (14.44-50)
Whew, Candy is set to go <em>off</em> because of what Clatoo said—and Clatoo refuses to back down. Of course, it's not hard to feel like nobody's going to mess with you when you and sixteen of your friends are carrying loaded shotguns.
Quote 2
"It ain't go'n work this time, Sheriff," Clatoo said, from the end of the garry.
Mapes turned his head quick. "Who said that?" he asked. He heard where the voice came from, and he knowed it was Clatoo's voice, but he didn't think Clatoo would own up to it. "I said who said that?" he asked.
"I did, Sheriff," Clatoo said.
Mapes pretended he couldn't find Clatoo in the crowd. Clatoo was the only person sitting on that end of the garry, and still Mapes pretended he couldn't find him. Then we he did, he stared at Clatoo long and hard. He though if he stared long enough, Clatoo was bound to look down. But Clatoo didn't look down. He sat there with that shotgun over his legs, looking straight back at Mapes. (9.35-8)
We get another glimpse at the way white characters try and assert their power in this passage. Not only does he act like Clatoo isn't important enough to remember by sight, but Mapes tries to stare him down with his cold hard eyes. And, surprise, surprise: Clatoo isn't having any of it.
Quote 3
"Get a gun if you want to talk, Jameson."
"No, Mr. Clatoo," Jameson said. "I won't get a gun."
"Then you better shut up," Clatoo said. "People with guns speak first here today."
"So she made you the leader?" Mapes asked Clatoo.
Clatoo didn't even look at him. And there ain't nothing a white man hate more than for a nigger not to look at him when he speak to him. (9.180-4)
Sometimes, a struggle for power doesn't have to be as obvious as fifteen guys with shotguns hanging out near a porch. Sometimes, it's as simple as a quick answer and a glance to prove you're not afraid.