49 pages 1 hour read

Langston Hughes

The Ways of White Folks

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1934

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Stories 10-13

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Story 10 Summary: “Little Dog”

Miss Briggs is the head bookkeeper for the firm Wilkins and Bryant. She takes pride in her work, feeling, “She was never a person to move about much or change jobs” (161). From a young age, Miss Briggs never went out regularly; she was raised by a single mother, and they didn’t have much. After attending business school, Miss Briggs took care of her mother, supporting them both until her mother’s death. Single and living alone since, Miss Briggs refuses to marry, thinking men will just want her for her money. Every day after work, she goes to the same place for dinner, Rose Bud Tea Shoppe, where she’s been served by the same two Black servers for years. Miss Briggs doesn’t feel lonely too often, except when she sees couples coming and going in the park near her apartment.

On her way home from a vacation, Miss Briggs happens upon a dog shop and buys a white dog named Flips. She takes Flips to the park near her apartment and enjoys seeing people smiling at her and Flips, but she never stays to socialize. Deep down, Miss Briggs distrusts people. Miss Briggs starts paying the janitor of her complex, a Swede, to deliver meat to her door to feed Flips with.

Related Titles

By Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Children’s Rhymes

Langston Hughes

Children’s Rhymes

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Cora Unashamed

Langston Hughes

Cora Unashamed

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Dreams

Langston Hughes

Dreams

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Harlem

Langston Hughes

Harlem

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

I look at the world

Langston Hughes

I look at the world

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

I, Too

Langston Hughes

I, Too

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Let America Be America Again

Langston Hughes

Let America Be America Again

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Me and the Mule

Langston Hughes

Me and the Mule

Langston Hughes

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Mother to Son

Langston Hughes

Mother to Son

Langston Hughes

Plot Summary
logo

Mulatto

Langston Hughes

Mulatto

Langston Hughes

Plot Summary
logo

Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life

Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston

Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life

Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston

Study Guide
logo

Not Without Laughter

Langston Hughes

Not Without Laughter

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Slave on the Block

Langston Hughes

Slave on the Block

Langston Hughes

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Thank You, M'am

Langston Hughes

Thank You, M'am

Langston Hughes

Plot Summary
logo

The Big Sea

Langston Hughes

The Big Sea

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Theme for English B

Langston Hughes

Theme for English B

Langston Hughes

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain

Langston Hughes

The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Langston Hughes

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

The Weary Blues

Langston Hughes

The Weary Blues

Langston Hughes

Study Guide
logo

Tired

Langston Hughes

Tired

Langston Hughes