Racism

One of the central functions of the novel is to illustrate the tragic degree to which racism and racial oppression are fundamental elements of American culture. More specifically, American society is consistently defined by white supremacy. One way in which the novel illustrates these dynamics is by articulating some of the historical dynamics therein. For example, the earliest chronological point of the novel is the early 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement. There was much strife in the country then, as American society sought to violently quash peaceful protests supporting racial equality. Opal recalls being sent to live in Alabama for a summer: “We were terrified to go. We’re talking about the South in 1961, baby! And not just any South. Alabama South. Bull Connor South” (16). It is important to understand the fact that, although racial oppression has taken different forms in America throughout history, it...