How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #10
WILLIE. [. . .] He's a little boy, Boet Sam. Little white boy. Long trousers now, but he's still a little boy. (1786-1787)
Willie uses the South African word "boet," which means brother or friend, to refer to Sam. Here, that usage draws a clear line between the black men and Hally; they are brothers who must defend themselves against their oppressor. When he dismisses Hally as a little boy, he adds in the further adjective, in italics, of "white," as though it were further evidence of Hally's ignorance. This is one of the few scenes where Willie takes the lead in his relationship with Sam.
Quote #11
SAM. [. . .] It was a "Whites Only" bench. You were too young, too excited to notice then. But not anymore. (1845-1847)
So that bench that Sam couldn't sit on because he had "work to do" isn't just a matter of who has time to work and who has time to play. It was legally, publicly marked for use by white people only. Here's an example. Even though Sam, a black man, is the one taking care of Hally, his skin color trumps his relationship and forces him to leave. Hally was probably too young to notice back then, but Sam point out that he's old enough now to do something about it.