Part III, Ladder to the Light, The Pain of Word Bondage, Chapter 8, The Pain of Word Bondage Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 8, Williams teaches a course with Peter Gabel who is the founder of Critical Legal Studies. They discuss trust and distrust in the bargaining situation. Gabel has handed $900 to a sublessor just out of trust and it works out. Williams realizes that because of her race, such trust would not happen. This also leads Williams to realize that she and Gabel have different relations to law because of their different social statuses. Gabel is a white male lawyer whereas Williams is simply a dangerous black female.

The Critical Legal Studies movement emphasizes that rights are unstable and indeterminate. This movement looks to end oppression and promote solidarity. They...