married and that he tells her everything. She feels rejuvenated when Mr Davis not only suggests making her his own secretary and increasing her salary, but also takes her out to lunch. However, as he suggests taking her out at night, she feels confused and emotional, and they return to work. Later, since Paul called her earlier to say he would be away at some art gallery with Cosmo, she goes to a bar and thinks back to an ex-boyfriend who had treated her like a slavegirl on a farm. In tears, she walks out of the bar, feeling disoriented. Racism is a major theme of the story. Moreover, Mr. Davis speaks in African-American vernacular with Ruth, strengthening their mutual sense of identity. Characters Ruth, a young black woman. She works for a life insurance company. Paul, a painter, Ruth's boyfriend. He is white. Cosmo, another painter, a friend of Paul's. Arthur, Ruth's ex-boyfriend, a clarinet player. She left her family home in the South with him. They lived together for four years. Mr Davis, the other black man at Ruth's company. Ruth's father Ruth's brother. He came upon her as she was about to make love when she was seventeen, and beat up the boy and called her names; they didn't talk after that. Cultural references Ruth acknowledges that Paul does not look like a Michelangelo statue. One of Ruth's co-workers has a crush on Frank Sinatra. Mr Davis hums "Rocks in My Bed". African-American slavery Going to Meet the Man References External links Publisher's description of Going to Meet the Man at Amazon.com 1965 short story collections Short story collections by James Baldwin African-American short story collections LGBT short story collections