An American Marriage: Part 2, Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Roy notes that goodbyes aren’t his strong suit, recalling that he didn’t even say goodbye to Walter when he left prison. Instead, while Walter was out of their cell, he left him a note in which he finally called Walter “his father” and referring to himself as Walter’s son, a gift he knows will please him. He leaves a picture of him and Celestial.

Roy goes to the cemetery to pay his respects to Olive. He reflects that it used to be called the “colored cemetery,” and that many of the graves are for young men; Walter once told him that black men could expect only two fates—being “carried by six or judged by twelve.” The grave marker bears both Olive’s name and “Roy,” and for a moment Roy thinks it refers to him before realizing it is the future marker for Big Roy. Roy weeps on Olive’s grave, like he did the day he received his sentence in court. He thanks her for all her love and care and says goodbye. As he stops to fill the tank of the car, he thinks he hears his mama’s voice tell him, “Any fool can up and go.” He fills in the rest of her meaning and heads to Davina’s house, but she’s not home.

Roy goes to Walmart to see Davina. He apologizes to her for leaving town abruptly and not sticking around to see what might develop between them. She asks if his plan was to return to his wife all along, and he avoids her question, instead thanking her. She curses him, though he insists he cares about her. She tells him she wants two things: that he not spread rumors about her around town and that he doesn’t come knocking on her door again.