How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #7
HALLY. [. . .] Want to know what our favorite joke is? He gives out a big groan, you see, and says: "It's not fair, is it, Hally?" Then I have to ask: "What, chum?" And then he says: "A n*****'s arse"…and we both have a good laugh.
(The men stare at him with disbelief)
[. . .] It's what's called a pun. You see, fair means both light in color and to be just and decent. (1718-1727)
Hally is transforming into a raging racist right before Sam and Willie's eyes—you can see it in their "disbelief" that he's never used such hateful language with them before. His explanation of the unfunny joke is ironic—by using the words "just and decent" he's just calling attention to how unjust and indecent he's being.
Quote #8
SAM. [. . .] Anyway, how do you know it's not fair? You've never seen it. Do you want to? (He drops his trousers and underpants and presents his backside for HALLY'S inspection) Have a good look. A real Basuto arse…which is about as n***** as they can come. Satisfied? (Trousers up) (1744-1749)
By physically dropping his pants and mooning Hally, he is calling him out on his terrible joke, making the ugly words real. He says he has a real Basuto behind, which is a reference to his tribe, reappropriating Hally's hateful, generalizing reference and showing pride in and knowledge of his heritage. Sam's counting on his relationship with Hally to let him take the risk of doing this. He knows he could be thrown in jail for disrespecting a white man.
Quote #9
(SAM stops and looks expectantly at the boy. HALLY spits in his face. A long and heartfelt groan from WILLIE. For a few seconds SAM doesn't move)
SAM. [. . .] The face you should be spitting in is your father's…but you used mine, because you think you're safe inside your fair skin…and this time I don't mean just or decent. (1759-1773)
Sam's right—Hally's truly angry with his father, but because he can't find it in himself to do anything about it he uses the black men around him as substitute punching bags. He hides inside of his whiteness, which protects him from societal disapproval but not from the pain of being an unjust and indecent human being.