to live in the south

By ‘learn how to live in the south’, Griggs means that Wright needs to accept the harsh reality of the south and confirm to the lifestyle down in the south of a black man. Because Wright never really gives up being “right”, he is always in trouble. He doesn’t give in, which is problematic because all the white people view him as a trouble. Griggs is trying to tell Wright that his attitude is not suitable for the life in the south and he must understand that he needs to act differently around white people. It is important for Wright and other black people who live in the south to learn how to act around white people.