[1]  The collection addresses multiple dimensions of racial issues, focusing specifically on the unbalanced yet interdependent power dynamics between Black and White people.

In a letter to close friends, Matt and Evelyn "Nebby" Crawford, he laments: "A few months ago I was worried about being undernourished in Tashkent.

[1] Although the book is his first collection of short stories, several of the works included in The Ways of White Folks were originally printed in other publications.

These publications include Esquire, The American Mercury, Scribner’s, Opportunity, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Debate, and Abbott’s Monthly.

“Slave on the Block” is the second story within the collection, a tongue-in-cheek exploration of the Carraways, a married White artist couple, and the reductive relationship they have with Luther and Mattie, their Black employees.

“Home” is the third story within the collection, detailing the return of talented violinist Roy Williams to his hometown of Hopkinsville, Missouri.

The narrative is delivered by Jack through a letter to his mother, where he reveals the complex experience of passing as White, despite identifying as Black.

The story explores the occupation of a young man working for a well-off Mr. Lloyd, and the conditions that led to the end of the job.

The narrative details the mayhem of con-man Eugene Lesche and his jazz-themed soul colony, created to help people achieve spiritual enlightenment.

The work comments on the African primitivist aesthetic, qualifying previous historical focuses of the lens, while still advocating for its relevance.

The story recounts consequences of Mister Clarence's, a white seaman, return to a small town on the coast of Florida to visit a former lover, a biracial Betsy.

The story explores Arnie’s isolation as the only Black member of his New England community, and his experience abroad searching for connection.

The story focuses on Millberry Jones', a young Black man, time working for sanatorium for disabled children.

The story details the lives and relationship of plantation owner Colonel Thomas Norwood and his biracial, rebellious son, Bert.

[4] David Herbert Donald called "Cora Unashamed" "a brilliantly realized portrait of an isolated black woman in a small Middle Western town, who stoically survives her own sorrows but in the end lashes out against the hypocrisy of the whites who employ her.

"[10] That story was adapted into a film of the same name from The American Collection directed by Deborah M. Pratt, starring Regina Taylor and Cherry Jones, and released in 2000.

Upon return to his hometown, Roy challenges the norms of a Black American in the small town he grew up in—he is well-dressed, educated, and has financial means from performing abroad.

At his homecoming concert Roy meets Miss Reese, an older White music teacher at the local high school.

As a member of White society, Jack is unable to share his life with his Black family, his mother, and siblings Gladys and Charlie.

The story concludes with the young man completing college with no means to get to dental school, as he has yet to find another occupation since his good job with Mr. Lloyd has gone.

Eugene and his longtime business partner Sol Blum open a jazz-themed cult, connecting the ideas of Black rhythm, happy souls, and the path to spiritual rejuvenation.

The story also comments on the deep issue of Black Americans’, including Hughes, participation in promoting problematic overreaches of primitivism in the 1920s.

For a long period of time, Osceola conforms to Mrs. Ellsworth’s requests, moving out of Harlem and devoting herself to pianism and the study of art.

[9] “Red-Headed Baby” describes fallout of Mister Clarence, a white seaman’s, return to a small town on the coast of Florida to visit a former lover, a mixed-race Betsy.

“Berry” describes Millberry Jones, a young uneducated Black man hired to work in the kitchen at an outpatient facility for disabled children.

The women express concerns over heightened racial tensions, and chatter amongst themselves as to what the future holds for the Ohio town and the couple.

The story concludes with the beginning of the monthly meeting of Salvation Rock Ladies’ Missionary Society for the Rescue of the African Heathen.

Arcie, intent on providing Joe an acceptable Christmas, does not notice when her son slips away to see Santa Claus in a nearby White-only movie theatre.

The Colonel threatens to kill Bert after publicly correcting a young White bank teller for her incorrect counting of change.

The evening papers report a double lynching of two plantation field hands for murdering Colonel Thomas Norwood, who left no heirs.