What does the excerpt show about the historical time period of the story? It shows that African Americans in the South experienced unjust treatment by white people that was dangerous to confront. It shows that African Americans and white people in the South faced similar types of difficult decisions in order to survive. It shows that African Americans in the South maintained the same level of community respect and power as their white neighbors. It shows that African Americans and white people in the South worked together to solve disagreements that took place between families.