A Portrait of Racism

Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Man, paints a very realistic portrait of racism in the 1930s. Discuss at least two ways in which racism is explored in this chapter. Include quotes and your own analysis of key moments in this chapter that clearly demonstrate the racism that existed in the American 1930s. What do readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter?

Check out this article titled, "Racial Segregation in the American South: Jim Crow Laws" to gain a better understanding of the timeline of racial segregation in America.

 

In Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck portrays racism through a certain character. Right away, the reader discovers who Crooks really is. He's a hard working man but he tells Lennie that he isn't allowed in the bunkhouse. On page 68," 'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me." It's ridiculous that this poor man isn't allowed in the bunkhouse because he's a different skin tone then the rest of them. The other guys in the bunkhouse speak of him like he's useless or trash. Curley's wife treats and talks to him very rudely and as if she has so much more power over him just because she's white.

Readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter, that in this time period of the 1930s segregation and the whole racism concept was very active. Crooks goes through racism throughout this chapter while he can't be in the bunkhouse and when Curley's wife talks to him inappropriately.