The narrator's grandfather last words seem to be encouraging “overcome em with yeses, undermine em with grins” but when you really think about it, its kind of sad. Its seems as if he is telling the family not to worry but to stay positive or keep on smiling regardless of the white peoples' treatment. But in reality the grandfather is telling them to always listen to the white people regardless, so that way they do not hurt you or miss treat you. Just do everything they want you to do, in order to keep your life. Although, you should hate them when they don't know so you can keep a little bit of self respect and decency. This is like being a silent witness, you know that something wrong is going on, but you choose not to say anything because the outcome will go against your favor. This is like the quote "put up or shut up" because you do not have a choice in what YOU want to do. But then again, your life is in danger, and I probably would have done the same thing his grad father wants the family to do. Its sad, but its not much of an option. The narrator kind of gives the white people a chance when he reads at the royal battle and talks about Booker T. and thoughts about social responsibility but when he accidentally says social equality, the white people immediately being to question and threaten him. This goes against what he hopes for, he is trying to be accepted but the white people, but they are disgusted by it. He has to learn that the hard way when he is forced battle on the rug