Everything that rises must converge

Significance of title:

After reading the story, I interpret the title as signifying the recent desegregation in the word "converge." "Everything that rises" may have a religious connotation to the ascent to heaven or may imply the eventual unification of all peoples despsite their race, background, or history that presently divide them. It is obvious in the story that Julian's mom is still set in her racist ways, even though she may be unaware of it. Her subtle subjugation of blacks irks julian more than anything as he is an educated man who accepts the present situation.