The statement simply means that Uncle Willie's personality is full of contradictions. On the one hand, for instance, he's severely disabled; the left side of his face is paralyzed so that he can barely talk, and he can only walk with the aid of a stick. Yet on the other hand, he's an incredibly tough character who demands respect and won't take any nonsense from anyone. This can be seen from the total control he exerts at home, where he rules over Maya and Bailey Jr with a rod of iron.

The many contradictions of Uncle Willie's personality can also be seen outside the home. When he's out and about, he likes to wear fancy clothes and put on a strong face. Even when people try to bully him or call him names, he still remains proud. And yet, on one notable occasion, he pretends that he can walk and talk normally.

Once again, Uncle Willie surprises us with his behavior. He'd always led us to believe that he was a proud man who couldn't care less what other people thought about him. But now look at him. It seems that, in pretending to be someone he's not, he's putting on a show for the benefit of other people, the very same people who've been so mean to him for so long.