The theme of alienation becomes evident in the book's later sections, but once it is uncovered, it can be retrospectively identified in earlier parts. The brief prose piece "Seventh Street," which initiates the second section, introduces the idea of urban isolation. It portrays the city street as a manifestation of social inconsistency—teeming with people yet deeply lonely. The characters in this section face less social pressure to remain segregated compared to the divided South. However, despite this relative freedom, they still struggle to understand one another well enough to build meaningful relationships.

Alienation is a major challenge for Ralph Kabnis, a light-skinned, educated black man who journeys to Georgia to reconnect with his roots, only to find that his ancestral home rejects the person he has become. The beginning of Kabnis' story highlights his solitude as he sits alone in the quiet night of his assigned room. He suffers from insomnia because his mind lacks focus: Georgia's societal norms conflict with the lifestyle he is accustomed to. As he becomes more social throughout the story, he feels increasingly detached from his previous life. He mocks the idea of being a teacher and praises the local cuisine in an effort to blend in with those around him, a strategy that proves effective. Halsey tells Professor Layman:

He ain't like most northern niggers that way. Ain't a stuck-up thing about him. He like us, you and me, maybe all—it's that red mud over yonder—gets stuck in it and can't get out. (Laughs)

The longer Kabnis remains in the South, the more he assimilates with the men around him, but this newfound comfort comes at a price. In his attempt to become like them, he grows resentful. He curses the old man who embodies black history and drinks excessively to the point of barely being able to stand. Conformity requires him to sacrifice the best parts of his personality to stave off loneliness.