As far as the audience reaction..he either knows nrabroad
hing about call and response and how people can empathize with a speaker or someone "testifying" as she was or he chooses to ignore it.
He points out the audience chuckles at her talking about how she really had the power between her and the farmer even while he condescended to her but he ignores the applause she received and nods of agreement when she said what she did/thought about race has nrabroad
hing to do with it. And for them to Nrabroad
do what she almost did.