The wonderfully-named Mr. Morrison is looking for a job because he just got fired from his last one. And the reason he got fired is because he got into a fight with some of his co-workers. But as his co-workers were white, they weren't dismissed; only L. T. Morrison was given his marching orders.

What this unfortunate episode illustrates is the widespread racial prejudice which existed at that time. In the days before racial discrimination legislation it was all too common for African-American employees to be fired at will, often for no reason at all. To be sure, protection for white employees wasn't a whole lot better, but it was still better, all the same.

It's notable in this case that Mr. Morrison's co-workers were also fighting—in fact, they started the fight—yet they weren't fired. It seems that Morrison's employers were just looking for an excuse to get rid of him, and took their chance.

Staying with the Logans gives L. T. some measure of protection, the kind that he'd otherwise lack out there in white society. By the same token, he can also offer protection to the Logans on account of his huge size and physical strength. For both L. T. and the Logans, this new living arrangement is a win-win situation.