Some of these contained occasional references to Negroes, but these generally depicted them in menial and subordinate roles, more or less subhuman. Blacks knew from the beginning that their lives would involve desegregation, particularly within the school. John, in anticipation of his future desegregation meetings, mowed lawns, emptied trash cans, helped his father at the gas station, contributed by selling Coca-Cola at local baseball games. One of his concerns was his “strength”. In his ability to prepare a little better, he implemented an exercise routine. He was physically and mentally prepared for an experience without friends at school.