Examples Of Dehumanization Of African Americans In The Underground Railroad

Patrick Charfauros

Mr. Canavese (Per. 6)

English 1

20 March 2023

Dehumanization of African Americans in The Underground Railroad John Burns once said, “I am depressed rather at the wave of brutality sweeping over the country.” African Americans throughout history have gone through racial discrimination in America. The police brutality against black people in America can be an example of the great discrimination that black people go through, as John Burns highlights. Similar examples of discrimination can be found throughout Colson Whitehead's novel, along with many other forms of it. Throughout The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, white characters constantly dehumanize black characters through various means, including objectification,

For example, a quote from the novel states, “Slavery is a sin when whites were put to the yoke, but not the African. All men are created equal, unless we decide you are not a man.” (Whitehead 182) This quote highlights the objectification of black characters by white characters, who use their privilege to justify the oppression of black characters. Deciding someone less than a man shows the objectification recurring throughout the novel. The author continues this line of reasoning when stating, “Ethel thought that a slave was someone who lived in your house like family but was not family. Her father explained the origin of the negro to disabuse her of this colorful idea.” (Whitehead 159) Black slaves were not even considered human; they were not on the same level as free men. These black people were only considered property to be used for labor by white slaveowners. Whitehead highlights the objectification stating, “She was surrounded by men and women who'd been born in Africa, or born in chains, who had freed themselves or escaped. Branded, beaten, raped.” (Whitehead 231) Some black people were born directly into slavery, with their enslavers treating them as property that the enslavers' had to do with as they wished. These slaves were branded, beaten, and raped rather than treated as living beings. To conclude, white characters constantly dehumanize black characters throughout the

A character in the novel highlights this stating, “’If [n-words] were supposed to have their freedom, they wouldn't be in chains.’” (Whitehead 70) In the novel, white characters chain black characters, removing their freedom. This highlights one of the many acts of violence throughout the novel. Whitehead continues to show this, stating, “Racial prejudice rotted one's faculties.” (Whitehead 220) This quote highlights how awful and prevalent racial prejudice was then. White people of power and privilege were hostile and violent towards black people. Another example of violence in the novel can be seen in the quote: “But we have all been branded even if you can’t see it, inside if not without—and the wound from Randall’s cane was the very same thing, marking her as his.” (Whitehead 210) Black slaves in the novel were subjected to brutal and painful branding. White slave owners used this extremely violent practice to prove possession. In conclusion, white characters repeatedly use violence to dehumanize black characters in the