There Will Be No Miracles Here

Gerald visits Yale in this chapter. He feels out of place but is soon connected by phone with an alum who attended South Oak Cliff and played football with Rod Gerald.

After a tour of the school’s football facilities and an evening hosted by Yale students, Gerald asks his only question: “Do y’all say ‘n****’ here?” (146). He is met with a quiet laugh, apparently due to the wide gulf between the culture of his hometown and the rarified social environment of Yale. Gerald felt some part “embarrassed or disappointed or confused” (146).

Following the visit, Yale recruiters come to South Oak Cliff. Gerald notes that it is rare for three white men to sit in a room at his high school, emphasizing that these individuals are outsiders to the community and indicating the significance of the visit.

Yet as the recruiters leave, Gerald is struck by the praise and approval of his community. The chapter closes by describing the national signing day for high school athletes; Gerald distinguishes between the hope he feels from his community for his voyage to Yale and the hope that stems from the big football signings. While the big football schools might offer a chance at fame and fortune, they also hold the risks embodied by Rod Gerald.