Complains? How about "observes." Reports." "Notes." "Has witnessed." You are, first, attempting to belittle Gaines's observations by characterizing them as "complaining." You then engage in some what-aboutism by stating that black people can be prejudiced against one another. We're looking at white people keeping blacks, who are, after all, fleeing from the same danger, from getting to safety. Last, thank you for sharing the actions of your Sicilian grandfather. What was his solution does not mean that it must be everyone else's.

By the bye, did you note whether or not I capitalized "black?"