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'Incidents In Octavia Butler's Kindred'

526 Words3 Pages

In the beginning of Kindred we are introduced to Dana and her relationship with Kevin. Dana is a part-time worker and an aspiring writer while Kevin is also an aspiring writer Who has had more success than Dana he is also works at a warehouse full time. Octavia Butler makes it clear that Kevin successful young white man and Dana is a struggling black women and puts those two together for a reason later on in the book. While Dana and Kevin are in their new home the two are unpacking their belongings and Dana faints and wakes up in another time. Dana meets a young boy named Rufus and his family but she takes more of an interest in Rufus. She later finds out that he is her ancestor and Dana wants to do what she can to teach him the right way so he doesn’t end up like his father. Dana makes it clear to Rufus to refer to her with respect when addressing her even though his parents teach him otherwise. It is later revealed that Rufus has an abusive …show more content…

What I took from Kindred, 12 years of slave, and Incidents in the life of a slave girl is how America viewed African Americans during the time of slavery. African Americans were viewed as property nothing else their feelings were not considered they were disrespected and were conditioned to believe that they were not human and they were inferior to whites. The way these authors Express this point varies from sarcasm to blatant honesty. For example how in incidents in the life of a slave girl Jacob 's descendants were loyal to their slave masters and in the end no matter what they did they were still property easily replaceable. In Kindred I do wonder if even after Dana’s work with Rufus will even stay with him because It would be a waste of time to see him develop into his father. I think that Rufus isn’t even Tom’s kid because of how Tom treats him. It was common for slave master wives to sleep with slaves so if that’s the case for Rufus and Tom isn’t his father it would show why Rufus is treated with

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