When the property for Bumpy's new club is being sold to a powerful, white real-estate developer, Bumpy must convince the black "Straw Man" to sell it to him instead. Mayme and Elise stage a protest at Margaret's school. Stella investigates stolen dope.

Bumpy finds a new concrete supplier that subverts payments to the Italians. Elise and the Panthers plan a symbolic action against the police. Frank does a job for Colombo. Mayme asks James Baldwin to do a reading for the Fine Arts Board.