Through their actions, the old men experience a change from frightened children living in a racist society to proud black men who will no longer allow bigotry to control their lives. These men don't have a propensity for violence, but for the first time in their lives, they are willing to stand together as a group and committ violent acts, if necessary. The "gathering" of men has become a community with common values, a common history, and common goals by the end of the book. The graveyard is a symbol of their strength as a group and their new sense of community they have developed.