TEWWG

18. "Us colored folks is too envious...Us keeps our own selves down." (pg. 39)

Coker is putting words to why the people of the towns are so judgemental. They don't like to be topped by anyone, so they come up with things to bring each other down. They get jealous easy, so they spread rumors to try and make themselves feel better about there being someone who is better at something than they are.