Back in the 1920’s to 1940’s in Harlem, it was more difficult the way black children had to live.  In the Rockpile By James Baldwin it expresses that.  Especially if your family is a spiritual family.  From the father’s point of view it expresses that in the story.  The father Gabriel tried to blame John for Roy getting hurt on the Rockpile.  Gabriel didn’t see why john let sonny go play outside by the Rockpile without the mother’s permission.  He feels that John should get punished for that.  Gabriel feels as if John disobeyed him but it was really Roy who disobeyed his mother.  But the father feels that he is so right that he should give John a beaten.  Since Gabriel isn’t John’s father the mother didn’t allowed him to beat John.  Because the father thinks he’s right and feels as thought the mother is soft on the children he gets mad at the mother.