While the Norma renders the bedroom, she sees Reuben having merely seemed towards motel. Immediately after he makes an ice bag to have their hemorrhaging nose, she apologizes to own their own dad’s rudeness and you will claims one Reuben is actually the initial Jewish people this lady has actually ever came across. Outside of the Henley factory, Reuben hand out pamphlets toward TWUA (Textile Workers Connection out-of The usa). A factory management, Jimmy Jerome Davis, claims one to a good connection organizer appears to come every four years, because locusts. During the their unique shift, Norma try advised one to the woman is are marketed to recognize-examining. Gardner, their own company, hopes the improve often encourage their so you can whine reduced.

Following the sex, Norma informs George that she no more really wants to keep the brand new fling, in which he slaps their unique

That have a clipboard in hand, she records employee efficiency, in addition to their own dad’s, who resents their own the authority. When she monitors an employee named Sonny Webster, he starts to act foolish and taunts her. Norma is not captivated, caution your one to his conclusion gets them discharged. That evening, Sonny ends up of the Norma’s house to help you apologize, explaining he are finished up once researching split up files earlier, and you will invites their particular aside to have a drink. She accepts, ignoring their unique dad’s disapproval about seeing a special, brand new man. As she begins their own shift you to day, Norma observes that the experts, that happen to be and her members of the family, doesn’t communicate with their unique. Whenever among them phone calls their a good “fink,” she announces in order to Gardner that she’s stopping, accepting you to she actually is getting used to determine the fresh sluggish laborers therefore the providers is also get rid of them.

Refusing to flames Norma on account of their family members’ much time records having new factory, the guy reassigns her into the weaving area. She grins whenever their friend Bonnie Mae embraces their own back since the one of them. That day, Sonny pushes Norma, along with her youngsters and his child, Alice, towards river. Due to the fact students are to experience, the guy proposes to Norma, need one to because the unmarried parents they are able to assist both. A while afterwards, Norma attends a conference prepared from the Reuben which gives a persuasive speech on the exploitation about textile community and you will cravings people in order to sign an excellent union card. Towards the a later date, Norma sees Reuben’s perseverance when he inspects this new facility bulletin forums to verify the TWUA observes are posted.

Soon later on, Sonny and you can Norma try married

Eventually, she shows up within his hotel area, today an excellent makeshift office, to inquire about if the contribution to the relationship commonly jeopardize their enda Japan-flicka particular occupations. Immediately after Reuben reassures her, Norma signs up. Once the she methods into the union throughout a-work split, management Lujan harasses Norma, but the woman is maybe not intimidated. Whenever Reverend Hubbard will not allow her to make use of the chapel to have a good partnership appointment since it should include African-People in america and you may whites, she organizes the newest event at the their particular home, even with Sonny’s protest. Into the fulfilling, the staff determine the newest jail-eg standards on facility, and something woman speaks regarding their particular spouse who has just died regarding “brownish lung. Throughout the a night time at your home, Norma are busy and make calls with respect to the union whenever Sonny complains one to the woman is forgetting their unique requirements since the a spouse and you will mom.

Provoked, she begins billing due to domestic chores up until Sonny relaxes their. Eventually while in the their move, Vernon’s arm happens numb and then he really wants to lay out, nevertheless the floor supervisor suggests him to continue until their next crack. He tries to keep, but abruptly collapses and you can becomes deceased. Following Vernon’s demise, Reuben’s hotel place of work is crowded having volunteers. When Norma yells within somebody for being later, Reuben kicks their unique out of the work environment; however, he uses their unique so you’re able to the area diner, to make sure their own you to the woman is the latest “Mommy Jones” of its end in. One to nights, Al London and you may Sam Dakin, authorities that have TWUA’s federal head office, started to the fresh motel, worried about Reuben’s organization which have Norma. Within her exposure, it complain to Reuben you to this lady has a keen illegitimate youngster and you will an excellent promiscuous character, that the mill may use to help you stain the newest union’s visualize.